Railways masterplan to protect passengers from Corona in the journey

The Railway Board has chalked out an action plan to protect millions of railway passengers from coronavirus infection during train operations. Under this, the train will be disinfected with soap or sanitizer spray after every journey. Toilets will be thoroughly cleaned at each stop. Coach and toilet door handles, railings, windows, etc. will be cleaned with sanitizer spray every two hours during the journey. It is expected that the Indian Railways can operate some trains from April 15. However, it has not been fully decided.

It is mentioned in railway documents that properly cleaning all trains and railway stations are very important to prevent infection of coronavirus. Every coach of the train will be cleaned with soap or sanitizer spray after every turn. Curtains will not be installed inside the coach. Window curtains should be easy to wash and dry.

On completion of the journey, thermal screening of railway running staff, assistant driver, driver, guard, TTE, coach assistant and electrical-mechanical staff will be mandatory. Running staff will be required to wear face masks and gloves in their hands. The cleaning of the waiting hall, retiring room, dormitory will continue. TTE will provide rail passengers who do not have masks. 

Central Railway has prepared guidelines to protect its employees from Corona. This includes collecting information about all 1.3 million employees and identifying potential segregation facilities for all of them. The Rail Parivar Maintenance Campaign document contains a list of guidelines to be followed by the zonal railways to keep employees safe. 

Apart from this, from April 15, passengers can see many changes in the train journey in the possible operations. On the lines of the airport, railway passengers will have to leave at the station four hours before the start of the journey. So that thermal screening of the passenger can be done. Only passengers with reserved tickets will be allowed to enter the station. There will also be no sale of platform tickets. 

What changes will be seen in the journey?

• Railways will run only non AC train (sleeper class) trains. The trains will not have AC class coaches. 
• It will be mandatory for the passenger to give information about their health to the railway 12 hours before the journey. 
• In case of signs of corona infection, the railway passenger will be forced off the train in the middle journey. 
• The passenger will be given a 100 percent refund. 
• Railways will also suggest senior citizens not to travel.
• Passengers must pass through a special tunnel to reach the train.
• Social distancing will be followed.
• If a passenger in the coach is found to have symptoms like coronavirus like cough, cold, fever, etc. then TTE and other running staff will stop such a passenger by stopping the train midway. 
• All four doors of the train will remain closed which will not allow the entry of non-essential person. 
• The train will be completely non-AC and will run non-stop (one station and another station). Can be stopped at one or two stations as required. 
• The coach's side berth of the train will remain empty so that social distancing can be followed. 
• Apart from this, only two passengers will travel in a cabin (a cabin with six berths).