Rajendra Nagar-New Delhi AC special train to operate from today

PATNA: As part of its decision to partially resume passenger train services for the first time after the imposition of the Covid-19 lockdown, the railways will run a pair of special AC train (02309/02310) between Rajendra Nagar Terminal and New Delhi on Tuesday.
With a load combination of 24 AC coaches, the train will leave Rajendra Nagar Terminal at 7pm and reach New Delhi at 7.40am the next morning.It will again leave Delhi at 5.15pm on Wednesday and reach the Patna Junction at 5.30am the following morning.
Danapur divisional railway manager (DRM) Sunil Kumar told this newspaper that ticket booking facility for the special train was available on the website of the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation.
“As a precautionary measure, the railways has not yet opened its passenger reservation system counters and decided to allow only confirmed ticket holders to enter the premises of different stations. Besides, they have to reach the station at least two hours before the departure of the train so that they can undergo thermal screening before boarding the train,” Kumar said.
City-based physician Dr Diwakar Tejaswi has, however, asked people not to travel by AC coaches. “Those, who cannot avoid doing so, should take utmost care and wear a face mask throughout the journey,” he suggested.
Trade and commerce bodies, on the other hand, have hailed the government’s decision.
Bihar Chamber of Commerce president P K Agarwal said, “The government is doing its bit for improving the country’s economy. People should also try their best to follow social distancing norms and take all precautionary measures while travelling.”
People, who hail from Patna but work in other states, have also welcomed the decision, but are concerned about reaching their destinations after getting off the train. Mithapur resident Piyush Sinha, a banker in Kolkata, rued, “I have booked a ticket to Howrah which falls under the ‘red zone’. Since the movement of taxis is prohibited there, I wonder how I will reach the bank.”
Kankarbagh resident Ranjan Sinha, a teacher in Arunachal Pradesh, is desperate to return to Patna. “Although the initial list of cities where train services have been resumed does not include Arunachal Pradesh, I am hopeful that I will go back home soon,” he said.