Maharashtra government allows women to travel in local trains from Oct 17 during fixed time slots

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Maharashtra government on October 16 allowed all ladies to travel in local trains from October 17 during a fixed time slot.

An order issued by the Secretary of Disaster Management, Relief and Rehabilitation department of the state said that all ladies, irrespective of whether they work for emergency services--- which have been allowed to travel by local trains--- will be allowed to board locals from 11 am to 3 pm and again from 7 pm till the end of local services for the day.

"It's requested that local trains services be made available to all women from 11 am to 3 pm and again from 7 pm till the end of local services for the day, from 17th Oct, in Mumbai and Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR)," the order said.

Local train services in Mumbai, which were shut down completely after the outbreak of COVID-19 in the city, are being allowed in a calibrated manner. According to reports, air-conditioned local train services have started from today on the Western Railway.

Of the 10 AC trains, two trains will be slow trains running DOWN direction between Mahalaxmi- Borivali and the other, UP direction between Borivali- Churchgate. The rest will be eight fast trains - four will run DOWN direction between Churchgate-Virar and the other four in UP direction between Virar-Churchgate.

Moreover, the Maharashtra government on October 14 had also announced resumption of metro rail services in Mumbai from October 15 in a graded manner under its mission 'Begin Again'.

In a new set of guidelines, the state government also allowed reopening of all state-run and private libraries from October 15 with strict COVID-19 protocols.