Key Jan Shatabdi Express connecting Garhwal with Kumaon resumes service after 73 days

DEHRADUN: The Naini-Doon Janshatabdi Express (12091/12092) resumed service after a gap of 73 days on Tuesday. The express train, which connects the Garhwal region with Kumaon, reached Dehradun from Kathgodam (Nainital) with 160 passengers on board on Tuesday. Later in the day, the train returned to Kathgodam with 370 passengers on board. Similarly, the Doon-New Delhi Jan Shatabdi Express also ran from Dehradun station with 435 passengers on board on the day.
All railway staff members, RPF officials, and district officials along with medical staff at Dehradun Railway Station were actively scanning passengers going from (and coming to) Dehradun to prevent transmission of Covid-19. The passengers were made to stand in queues while maintaining social distancing before letting them board the train and their thermal scanning was conducted by a team of doctors.
As the Naini-Doon Janshatabdi Express commences its journey from Nainital (a red zone district), a camp was also set up outside the Dehradun Railway Station where government officials were recording the exact destinations of the passengers so that it becomes easy for officials to track them and ensure that they are following self-quarantine norms.
Dehradun Railway Station director Ganesh Chand Thakur told TOI, “According to railway guidelines, passengers have to reach the station 90 minutes in advance. And only the passengers with confirmed and RAC tickets would be allowed entry in station premises. The passengers with waiting tickets will not be allowed.”
The official added, “We are spraying disinfectants in all train coaches before and after the journey. Every passenger is being compulsorily screened before being allowed entry to the station. Also, we are ensuring that social distancing is maintained at all times.”
Meanwhile, New Delhi-Dehradun Jan Shatabdi Express (12055-56) arrived in Dehradun on Tuesday night with 380 passengers on board. Delhi has so far reported nearly 21,000 coronavirus positive cases and has about 144 contentment zones.
In view of this, Dehradun DM Ashish Kumar Srivastava said, “Anyone coming from coronavirus-affected areas should register himself on Dehradun’s Smart City website. As for those travelling from areas in the red zone, there is a mandatory seven-day institutional quarantine and 14-day home quarantine period. Besides, they will also have an option for paid quarantine.”
Notably, Indian Railways started running 100 train services from Monday onwards.