PATNA: Amid the decline in Covid-19 cases in Bihar, the occupancy rate of passengers has suddenly picked up in all long distance special passenger trains originating from Patna Junction and other major stations falling under the jurisdiction of East Central Railway (ECR) for New Delhi, Mumbai, Vasco de Gama, Pune, Chandigarh, Bengaluru and Chennai.
These trains were running with negligible occupancy rate of passengers till a fortnight ago.
According to ECR chief public relations officer ( CPRO ) Rajesh Kumar, “The Rajendra Nagar Terminal–New Delhi Rajdhani special (02309) has 1,134 berths .
However, occupancy rate of passenger is almost 110 per cent in this train now.
Confirmed tickets are not available in the Rajdhani Express special from Patna to New Delhi.” Similarly, Rajendra Nagar Terminal–New Delhi Sampoorna Kranti special (02393) are running with cent per cent occupancy rate.
Confirmed berths are not available in any class in this particular train between Patna Junction and New Delhi, he said adding railways is issuing wait list tickets to passengers in the Sampoorna Kranti superfast special passenger train.
Besides, Patna–Vasco de Gama (02742) is having more than 100 per cent occupancy rate.
The train, which left Patna Junction on June 4, had full occupancy.
“Vasco de Gama was always a favourite tourist place for Patnaites during peak summer,” the CPRO said adding special passenger trains originating from Patna Junction and Patliputra Junction for Mumbai are running with maximum occupancy rate.
Patna–Yashwantpur special passenger train (03251) and Patliputra Junction–Chandigarh special passenger train (03255) are also running with maximum number of passengers barring few berths are available in 2AC.
The Darbhanga–Pune special passenger train (01034) and Gaya–Chennai special passenger train (02389) are also packed to the capacity .
“The occupancy rate of passengers travelling by Jayanagar– New Delhi special (02561) and Darbhnga–New Delhi special (02565) is full as passenger wait list goes more than 100 in these two special trains,” the CPRO said adding, “These special trains from Darbhanga , Muzaffarpur and Saharsa had very poor occupancy rate of passengers last month only.” Danapur–Pune special (02150) which has 1,591 berths, is full while Danapur–Secunderabad special (02792) and Danapur–Bengaluru special (02296) are running with maximum passengers, the CPRO said adding Rajendra Nagar Terminal–Ahemdabad special passenger train (02395), Patna– Puri special passenger train (08450) and Patna– Bandra (09272) are having full occupancy rate these days.
According to the CPRO, the railways is strictly following the Covid-19 health protocol while allowing passengers to undertake journey by special passenger trains.
Railways is also punishing those passengers who are not wearing masks at the time of entering the station premises to board trains at different places of the ECR’s jurisdiction, he said .