SCR to operate special trains from today

The stage is set for operation of daily special trains from twin cities with South Central Railway (SCR) making all arrangements to ferry passengers to their respective destinations.

Starting Monday, over 10,000 passengers will be travelling from city every day through seven special trains – four from Secunderabad railway station and three from Hyderabad railway station, and thousands of passengers would be arriving from other States via other special trains.

Among these special trains, superfast express trains will be having 22 to 24 coaches and ferry around 1,600 to 1,800 passengers. Around 150 Railway Protection Force personnel will be deployed at Secunderabad station to restrict unauthorised entry of ticketless passengers, a senior official said.

According to SCR, the special trains being operated from twin cities include Hyderabad-Visakhapatnam special, Hyderabad – New Delhi special, Hyderabad – Mumbai CSMT special, Secunderabad – Howrah special and Secunderabad – Danapur special.

Apart from these trains originating from city, a few special trains passing through the city have halts at Secunderabad, Hyderabad and Kacheguda stations. In addition, there is a bi-weekly special train (Secunderabad – Nizamuddin) on Sundays and



Thursdays.

Officials said that special trains, which are fully reserved trains having both AC and non-AC classes have been fully booked days back. “Passengers should not board the trains without an authorised journey ticket. Checks will be conducted to ensure that no unauthorised person enters the railway station premises”, said an official.

There will be separate entry and exit for passengers in railway stations while no waiting halls will be opened. Even on benches in the station, passengers are allowed to sit duly maintaining physical distance.

According to sources in SCR, Ticket Travelling Examiners will be provided with magnifying glass to check tickets and avoid direct contact with passengers. As soon as passengers pass through thermal screening, they will be allowed to directly go and occupy their respective seats in special trains.

To provide hassle free boarding to passengers, authorities are very likely to scan body temperature of passengers through computerised thermal screenings, which are already undergoing trials in Secunderabad. Passengers found symptomatic of Covid-19 during the screening will not be allowed to travel and in such case, full refund of ticket fare will be provided to them.