IRCTC to re-start Tejas Express from Oct 17
The Tejas train services, which was halted due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown, will re-start its operations from October 17 with all COVID protocols in place. Tejas trains will run from Ahmedabad to Mumbai and from Delhi to Lucknow.
New Delhi: Government-owned Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is all set to restart operation of Tejas Express trains (Lucknow to New Delhi and Ahmedabad to Mumbai) for catering to the growing passenger demand due upcoming festive season. The trains will run from Ahmedabad to Mumbai and from Delhi to Lucknow.
The operation of these two Tejas trains was suspended from March 19 due to spread of COVID-19 pandemic. IRCTC said it has got approval from the Ministry of Railways to again start the operation of these two popular corporate trains.
Talking to ETV Bharat, Vayu Nandan Shukla, IRCTC Regional manager, said," The two corporate trains have been launched due to special demand from passengers. High-quality services will be provided to passengers from Tejas.
"The trains will be sanitized three times during one trip. The coaches will be sanitized whenever a passenger enters and leaves the train. Booking of Tejas Express has started and we have received a good response from passengers," he added.
Shukla went on to add, "The Railways will also serve meals to the passengers. However, we will resume the operations with limited staff capacity but they will be trained properly for all the hygiene standards."
Talking about the COVID protocols, the regional manager said," Tejas Express will also follow all the COVID protocols just as other trains do. All the passengers will have to undergo thermal screening before boarding. It is mandatory for staff to wear face masks and safety gear as a precautionary measure. Passengers must arrive at the station 90 minutes earlier. The Health Bridge app must be downloaded and face masks are mandatory throughout the trip."
READ: Railways planning to upgrade high-speed trains
All passengers will be provided a COVID-19 protection kit which will contain a bottle of hand sanitiser, a face mask, a face shield and a pair of gloves. They will go through thermal screening and hand sanitisation process before entering a coach.
"Since the Tejas train runs with 50% capacity, a special type of seating arrangement has been made with social distance. Domestic flights between Ahmedabad and Mumbai are on, but the Tejas has become the first choice of passengers as it offers better facilities and half the fare, faster delivery of passengers to their destinations," Vayu Nandan Shukla said.
All-round preparations are underway to ensure that the trains match expectations of people in terms of service levels besides safety and health protocols. Every alternate seat will be kept vacant initially following the social distancing norms.
Mumbai's Andheri station will also have a Tejas train so that the passengers can go to the international airport without much difficulty. However, officials said there has been no increase or decrease in Tejas train fares.
Earlier, IRCTC said that it has conducted an extensive training programme to train its team of employees which has been told to follow standard operating procedures to ensure passenger safety.
READ: Railways restores pre-Covid reservation chart system
With ANI inputs