Covid-19 lockdown: Passenger train services resume in Patna

PATNA: Patna Junction and Rajendra Nagar Terminal came abuzz on Monday after two months of lockdown following partial restoration of passenger train services.
At least 48 mail and express trains were restored from various places under the East Central Railway bringing much relief to those stranded due to the nationwide lockdown since March 24.
Ranjit Kumar, a native of Vaishali, had been waiting to return to his workplace in Delhi since the first week of March.He boarded the Sampoorna Kranti special for New Delhi at the Rajendra Nagar Terminal on Monday. “I am relieved to be going back to join my duty after two months in Delhi. I had booked my ticket online,” he said.
Many, who had come home to Bihar from various parts of the country for Holi were stuck because of the lockdown and were relieved to go back. Sudhir Kumar from Samastipur had come to board a New Delhi-bound special train at Rajendra Nagar Terminal with his wife, son and daughter.
Similarly, Rekha Kumari, said she had come to Samastipur at her in-laws’ house for Holi and could not return to Delhi due to lockdown . “I am very much relieved that railways has restored services of a few pairs of passenger trains for Delhi from Patna. Railways has maintained a standard protocol for every passenger to enter station premises,” she said .
Patna – Howrah Janshatbadi special ( 02024 ) was the first train to leave Patna Junction at 5.30 am carrying 1,161 passengers while Patna – Ranchi Janshatabdi left for Ranchi with 1,186 passengers at 6 am. The railways ensured total implementation of the Centre’s advisory. “Security personnel allowed passengers’ entry in to the platform area only after proper checks,” said ECR CPRO Rajesh Kumar.
Altogether 24 pairs of trains were restored from Monday out which five pairs were from Patna Junction followed by four from Danapur , three pairs each from Darbhanga and Muzaffarpur, two pairs from Jayanangar and one pair each from Rajendra Nagar Terminal, Patliputra Junction, Rajgir, Saharsa, Raxaul, Motihari and Chhapra.