The first set of passengers from two of the designated Special trains for Western Railway which had their maiden run on 13th May, 2020 from New Delhi arrived at Mumbai Central station & Sabarmati station on 14th May, 2020 respectively.
While 1341 passengers boarded the Mumbai bound Special train, 1072 passengers arrived at Mumbai Central. Similarly, 1178 passengers travelled in the Ahmedabad bound train, with 515 passengers arrived at the destination station, i.e. Sabarmati station.
According to a press release issued by Shri Ravinder Bhakar- Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Rly, all requisite precautions and well co-ordinated efforts were undertaken by W. Rly along with RPF team and MCGM’s Security, Fire & Health service, in accordance to the guidelines & protocols set forth by the State Govt. and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare for the passengers arriving from Train 02952 New Delhi – Mumbai Central Special train.
The entire movement of passengers in the station area was regulated by strict protocol. The passengers were de-boarded in a sequence by following the norms of social distancing – two coaches were dealt at a time and passengers were allowed to alight from one exit only and had to undergo thermal screening.
The luggage of passengers were sanitized by the Fire Service Authority and thereafter they were assisted to the medical screening area manned by Doctors from both W. Rly & MCGM for detection of any symptoms with respect to COVID – 19 such as coughing, contact details etc. The passengers with no symptoms were stamped for home quarantine while those showing symptoms were directed to institutional quarantine.
Shri Bhakar stated that it was for the 1st time in W. Rly that airport type trolleys were introduced at Mumbai Central station to allow passengers to ferry their luggage from the station. These trolleys helped the passengers to transfer their luggage conveniently.
The exit of passengers from the station was facilitated through multiple channels for private vehicles, BEST buses and State transport buses. Similar measures were also initiated at Sabarmati station for the arriving passengers.
