Coronavirus: All Passenger Trains, Metros, Interstate Transport Services Suspended Till March 31

Coronavirus: Important decisions taken to check the virus outbreak include suspension of movement of all passenger trains, metro trains and interstate passenger transport till 31st March 2020

Passengers wearing facemasks amid concerns over the spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus, disease pandemic during travel at local train in Kolkata, India on March 21, 2020. 83 in the country. (Photo by Sonali Pal Chaudhury/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

New Delhi: Indian Railways on Sunday announced suspension of all its passenger services from March 22 midnight to March 31 midnight, in an unprecedented move and said only goods trains will run during the said period. As per the Ministry of Home Affairs, movement of all metro trains and inter-state passenger transport will be suspended till March 31, 2020. Cabinet Secretary reviewed the Covid-19 India status with State Chief Secretaries. Important decisions taken to check the Coronavirus outbreak include suspension of movement of all passenger trains, metro trains and interstate passenger transport till 31st March 2020,the PIB said in a statement.

Cabinet Secretary reviews #Covid_19india status with State Chief Secretaries. Imp decisions taken to check the #CoronaVirusOutbreak include suspension of movement of all passenger trains, metro trains and inter state passenger transport till 31st March 2020. Details 👇 pic.twitter.com/Hr7bX9WkB0

— Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs (@PIBHomeAffairs) March 22, 2020

The railways had already trimmed down its services on Friday by cancelling a majority of trains. However, it had allowed all trains that had already started the journey to continue. According to a new order issued by the railways, only goods trains will run from March 22 midnight to March 31 midnight. Delhi Metro services to remain completely suspended till March 31 Delhi Metro Rail Corporation announced that Delhi metro services will remain completely closed till March 31^st. Delhi Metro will however continue to be powered for essential internal operations operational maintenance activities during this durations and security of the system will continue to betake care by CISF. Mumbai local train services to stop from Sunday midnight Mumbai local train services will stop from Sunday midnight till March 31 in a bid to contain the spread of coronavirus. However, BEST bus services will continue in the metropolis to facilitate movement of staff of the essential services, a state government official said. Nearly 80 lakh people use the suburban trains in Mumbai everyday, a Central Railway official said. The Mumbai suburban rail network operates more than 3,000 services everyday, facilitating people to reach their workplaces, he said. Bengal govt suspends interstate bus services till March 31; Kolkata metro services to be suspended from Monday Amid the spurt in Covid-19 cases, the Mamata Banerjee government sought to isolate West Bengal from other parts of the country, as it stopped inter- state bus services starting from Sunday. A PIB release said bare minimum number of suburban trains and Kolkata Metro trains will be operational till Sunday night. Departure and arrival of all inter-state buses are being been stopped from Sunday, West Bengal Transport secretary N S Nigam said. Inter-state buses originating in the neighbouring states shall not be allowed to enter West Bengal with immediate effect till March 31, an order issued by the transport department said. "Considering the emergent situation developing due to spread of Novel Coronavirus, all inter-state bus operations originating from this state shall remain suspended till March 31," it said. A special train from Mumbai, however, arrived at Howrah on Sunday morning with around 1,000 passengers onboard, railway sources said. All of them were screened by medical officers at the Howrah station, they said.