The Tamil Nadu government on Friday urged the Railway Ministry to resume suburban train services in the city, suspended since March in view of the Covid-19 pandemic, saying it will benefit the public, as well as aid economic revival.
Chief Minister K Palaniswami wrote to Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, pointing out that inter and intra-state train services had already resumed in Tamil Nadu.
Metro rail services here are also operational.
The state government had already made a request on September 2 to resume Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) and suburban trains in and around Chennai for the general public, the Chief Minister said in the letter.
"Resumption of EMU/suburban trains will greatly help the general public and facilitate in the quick revival of the economy."
"Hence, I request you to give instructions to the Southern Railway to resume EMU/ suburban trains in and around Chennai, duly adopting Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for Covid-19," he added.
The suburban EMU services connect the city to its southern and northern parts, including areas from nearby districts and are considered a lifeline for this metropolis.
The services have remained suspended since March when a national lockdown was imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus.
(Published 23 October 2020, 10:23 IST)
JOIN US