New Delhi: The Railways on Saturday announced that 10 per cent employees of co-operative and private banks will now be allowed to travel on Mumbai’s suburban trains. Till now, essential staff including nationalised bank employees, and lawyers could travel on the local trains but now 10 per cent of the total staff strength of co-operative and private banks will also be able to travel the Mumbai locals.

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As quoted by news agency PTI, the Central and Western Railways in a joint release stated that on the Maharashtra government’s request, 10 per cent of the total staff strength of co-operative and private banks will be permitted to travel by local trains.

As per the latest development and guidelines, the staff is required to obtain QR ID codes from the state government. Until then, those with valid identity cards can buy tickets and travel.

It is worth mentioning that the railways have been operating special suburban services for people engaged in essential and emergency services since mid-June. Recently, the authorities even allowed aircraft maintenance and repair staff to travel on local trains.

In early June, the Central Railway (CR) and Western Railway (WR) together started 450 services, according to officials. The WR said that it will run 60 pairs of its 12 car suburban services -- total 120 -- in both directions between Churchgate and Dahanu Road, according to WR spokesperson Ravindra Bhakar.

The state government has been urged to ensure all those allowed to travel, are done so after ensuring that they are medically fit and do not come from containment zone. To allow adequate social distancing in the coaches, unlike its seating capacity to accommodate about 1,200 persons, only about 700 are to be allowed per train.