Mumbai AC local train services to be suspended as coronavirus cases touch 49

As the number of coronavirus cases increases in the state, Western Railway decided to cancel AC local services in Maharashtra from Friday. The AC local trains will be replaced by non-AC suburban trains till March 31, said Western Railway PRO. 16 AC suburban services running on Transharbour line - Thane-Vashi/Nerul/Panvel - will also be cancelled from 20th March to 31st March.

The AC local services on Thane-Vashi-Panvel trans-Harbour corridor will be suspended till March-end, says a Central Railways spokesperson said.

With two fresh cases reported today, the total number of coronavirus patients reached to 49. The most urbanized state in the country is the worst affected state in the country.

Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray today urged citizens to stay indoor."Please try to remain indoors as far as possible, avoid all unnecessary commutes or travels and exercise precautions at all times," said Thackeray.

Sprawled across the Central Railway and its Harbour Line, plus Western Railway, the suburban trains are the lifeline of Mumbai which ferry over 8.50 million commuters daily serving Mumbai, Thane, Palghar and Raigad districts. Western Railway operates 12 AC services between Churchgate and Virar.

To minimize footfall in the stations, Central Railways earlier increased platform ticket price from ₹10 to ₹50 in Mumbai, Pune, Bhusawal, and Solapur divisions.

"The Central Railway has increased platform ticket price from ₹10 to ₹50 in its Mumbai, Pune, Bhusawal, and Solapur divisions till further orders in order to curb crowd at stations," the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Central Railway, in a statement.

Indian Railways cancelled over 150 trains till March 31 amid coronavirus scare. IRCTC decided to not charge cancellation fee for those trains. Train passengers will get 100% refund for these cancelled trains, PTI reported.

Central Railway zone has recently wrapped a local train to create more awareness regarding COVID-19 infection.

The state government are decided to reduce the load on public transport services, including suburban locals, to 50%. The state-run public transport bodies MSRTC and BEST also announced not allowing passengers to travel by standing in their buses from today.

Thackeray government asked all to cooperate for the ongoing 'war against virus'.

(With Agency Inputs)