Passenger traffic drops in local trains, BEST buses in Mumbai post partial lockdown

Local trains in Mumbai (File image: Reuters)

Reduction in the public transport commuting was seen in Mumbai following the imposition of a partial lockdown. The passenger traffic has dropped in the local trains - considered as lifeline of the city - and the buses operated by the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST), a report said on April 9.

The Central and Western Railways - the two suburban train networks which witness the maximum commuter footfall - recorded a cumulative drop of around 700,000 passengers.

The per-day count of commuters on local trains operated by Central Railway dropped to nearly 1.9 million passengers this week, down from 2.2 million before the imposition of fresh curbs, Hindustan Times reported.

The Western Railway saw its daily footfall going down from around 1.8 million passengers to 1.4 million, the report said.

A Central Railway official who spoke to the daily said the drop is a result of work from home orders issued by private companies to their employees.

As part of the new COVID-19-related restrictions, only government offices are allowed to operate, whereas, the non-essential private offices have been shut. This has forced companies to issue work from home orders to employees.

The daily footfall in buses operated by BEST dropped to 2 million on April 6, as compared to 2.3 million on April 1. This is being attributed to the order issued by the state government which allows public transport vehicles to be operated at only 50 percent of their seating capacity. The bus conductors have been directed to ensure there are no standing passengers.