Bihar: Covid-19 cases surge drives down train occupancy

PATNA: The massive surge in the number of Covid-19 positive cases in Bihar has affected the occupancy rate of passengers travelling by the 19 special trains originating under the jurisdiction of the East Central Railway (ECR). The occupancy rate has also come down in trains reaching Bihar.
“The occupancy rate of passengers in the Rajendra Nagar– New Delhi Rajdhani special train, which has 1,134 berths, is around 43%, causing loss of revenue.The Rajgir-New Delhi Shramjeevi Express special and Shampoorna Kranti special are running with 85 per cent occupancy rate,” said ECR chief public relations officer Rajesh Kumar, adding, the special trains coming from New Delhi also don’t have full occupancy.
The Patna–Howrah Janshatabdi special, which was running with better occupancy rate of passengers, has down due to an exponential increase in coronavirus cases from several parts of Bihar. “The special train has low occupancy on its return journey from Howrah while the Patna – Ranchi Janshatabdi special has been running between Patna and Gaya only and Danapur – Tata special has been cancelled from July 13 onwards,” he said.
The occupancy rate of passengers travelling by Saharsa–New Delhi special, Darbhnga–New Delhi special, Muzaffarpur–Anand Vihar special and Raxaul – Anand Vihar special has also marginally come down on both onward and return journeys trips due to the Covid-19 pandemic fear among passengers .
Danapur – Secunderabad special ( 02792 ) and Danapur – Bengaluru special ( 02296 ) are likewise running with low occupancy rate of passengers while special trains originating from Patna and other places from Bihar to Mumbai have better occupancy rate of passengers. “The sudden fall in number of passengers travelling by special trains from Bihar was first noticed on July 7 when 19 special trains originating from Bihar had left with 35,000 passengers only,” the CPRO said.