Metro Railway contemplating not to run usual night services during Durga Puja: Official

Metro Railway is contemplating t to run usual all-night services during Durga Puja days in view of an apprehended rise in COVID-19 pandemic owing to a surge in movement of people during festive days, an official said here on Wednesday.Epidemiologists have warned of an exponential increase in number of COVID cases in city and also in or parts of state following Durga Puja, largest festival in West Bengal, owing to pandal hopping and mingling of people.

"We are contemplating t to run all-night services this year during Durga Puja days owing to COVID pandemic situation and apprehension of an increase in number of cases," Metro spokesperson Indrani Banerjee said.

She said that Metro Railway is thinking in this line to play its part in t contributing to an increase in number of COVID cases in city.Since Metro Railway is one of most preferred modes of transportation of revellers to reach destinations fast and easily, it will be helpful to prevent such movement as far as possible by t running trains throughout night during puja days, as is usual practice every year,Banerjee said.

She, however, said that a final decision is yet to be taken by Metro authorities on matter. Metro Railway runs services up to 4 am during Durga Puja days till Nabami and till past midnight on Dashami or Dussehra every year, with lakhs of people using services to reach ir destination conveniently since ros are usually choc-a-bloc owing to heavy traffic and restrictions around major pandals across city.

Doctors have warned of a surge in COVID cases in state and particularly in Kolkata during and after festive season if social distancing protocols are t strictly maintained.West Bengal has alrey seen an increase in number of positive cases of COVID-19 infection for last several days and many doctors are attributing this to people thronging markets and shopping malls to buy new apparels and or materials for festive season.In 2019, Kolkata Metro h set a record of serving maximum number of passengers in a single day in its history, carrying 9.22 lakh commuters on October 3 on 'Panchami' at beginning of festival that year.

It carried 49.5 lakh commuters during Durga Puja days from Chaturthi to Navami last year.

city Metro h registered 9.07 lakh passenger movement on October 15 during Durga Puja in 2018, recording second highest ever footfall in a single day in its history.

(IM CREDITS:PTI)