Local trains to resume for fully vaccinated: Mumbai begins allotment of passes

The team first verifies the vaccination certificate of the applicant, scans the QR code on it and also verifies and collects a photocopy of the ID card. They then stamp the documents before sending the applicant to the railway counter to get the pass

The process for verification of documents and allotment of railway passes for local trains begain in Mumbai today. This comes in the wake of the Maharashtra government’s decision to resume local train services for fully vaccinated commuters in the city from August 15. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) set up 358 helpdesks at 53 railway stations in its jurisdiction for the verification of vaccine status.

Commuters wait in queue at Dombivili railway station for railway pass on the first day of verification on Wednesday, August 11. (Sourced)

People began gathering at the verification counters set up at Kalyan and Dombivli railway stations since 6am on Wednesday.

While junctions such as Kurla, Dadar, and Bandra saw a larger number of people gather at counters, no crowding has been reported at any other station so far.

Kiran Dighavkar, assistant commissioner of the G/North ward, said, “Operations have been going on smoothly at helpdesks at Dadar. There is no crowd so far, as citizens have also realised there is time till August 15 to get the passes issued.”

While some were clueless about the procedure and allotment of passes, some carried all their documents to be sure. “I have carried the vaccination certificate and my identification card. They are also asking for a photocopy of the ID card...nowhere had they mentioned that a photocopy will be required. After waiting in the queue for verification, we must wait for the passes in another queue,” said Mahajan Surve,40, as he waited at Kalyan railway station.

Another applicant who did not wish to be named said, “I think the government should also allow those who have taken the first dose as it is a matter of their livelihood too.”

Help desk at Dadar railway station for verification of documents for local train passes by railway authority, at Dadar railway station in Mumbai on Wednesday, August 11. (Bhushan Koyande/HT photo)

The Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation has deployed a team of ward officers, deputy commissioner and others at the seven railway stations falling under its jurisdiction: Kalyan, Dombivli, Shahad, Ambivli, Kopar, Thakurli and Titwala stations. These teams are operating in two shifts of 7am-3pm and evening 3pm-11pm.

The team first verifies the vaccination certificate of the applicant, scans the QR code on it and also verifies and collects a photocopy of the ID card. They then stamp the documents before sending the applicant to the railway counter to get the pass.

“Today is the first day of verification. People are coming with soft copies of their documents which will not be considered. They should bring hard copies so that we can stamp them which will be further verified by the railway staffs for allotting the pass,” said Suhas Gupte ward officer, who is managing the counter at Dombivli station.

Vasant Bhongade, ward officer at the Kalyan east counter said, “We have set up four counters and people have started coming for verification...There is a confusion related to documents as it is the first day. However, our team is guiding them.”

Suresh Kakani, additional municipal commissioner in charge of BMC’s health department, who is overseeing these operations, conducted rounds of some railway stations in the city on Wednesday morning. Mumbai mayor Kishori Pednekar is also set to visit railway stations where helpdesks have been set up.

A senior civic officer said, “Since fully vaccinated citizens also have to wait for 14 days after their second shot, before applying for passes, the sample size of fully vaccinated beneficiaries also opting for a train pass may be small. Among those fully vaccinated, those who want to take the train as well, may be a small number. We are yet to see how many passengers are opting for train travel.”

According to data from BMC, a total of 1,914,771 beneficiaries have been fully vaccinated in Mumbai till date. Of these, 297,377 are healthcare and frontline workers; 646,939 are citizens above 60 years of age; 811,709 are citizens between 45 years and 59 years; 140,944 are citizens between 18 years and 44 years; 721 are lactating mothers; 8 are pregnant women; 16,889 are students or professionals looking to travel abroad, or those who were participating in Tokyo Olympics; 136 are physically or mentally differently abled beneficiaries; 26 are persons without identity proofs (prisoners/transgender persons); and 22 are bed-ridden beneficiaries.