Covid-19: NCR allows staff to use its ‘running rooms’

Prayagraj, March 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) The North Central Railway (NCR) has made it easier for its staff engaged in transporting essential items across the country to use its 'running' rooms for accommodation, officials said on Thursday.

"As the passengers trains are off the track and only freight trains are in service, we are allowing the usage of the running rooms for the local staff involved in the (transportation) process," NCR spokesperson Amit told IANS.

The 'running rooms' have lodging and food facilities for railway employees.

The spokesperson said the step has been taken so that no railway employee feels neglected.

On Tuesday several loco pilots in Agra created a ruckus saying they would not go to their homes fearing Covid-19 infection. The video of the loco pilots refusing to go to their homes went viral on social media.

The spokesperson said: "We are keeping nearly half of the running rooms for the outstation staff who are arriving in the zone with the freight trains. The rest of the running rooms are available for the local staff".

The railways on Monday first suspended the passenger, express and express services till March 31 as a precautionary measure to stop the spread of Covid-19.

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement of a complete nationwide lockdown for 21 days from March 24 midnight to April 14, the railways also extended the suspension of passenger, mail and express train services.

The railways, meanwhile, said that the freight trains will continue to run to ensure the supply of essential items across the country.

Source: IANS