Rail journey begins
Travellers fleeced by private taxis at rail station
Passengers stand in queue at the Secunderabad railway station to board a Delhibound train from Bengaluru en route Secunderabad on Wednesday. Around 240 passengers boarded the train. Later in the evening, another train bound for Bengaluru arrived from Delhi.
For thefirst time in over
50 days, a train for the general public passed through Secunderabad railway station on Wednesday. At around 7.55 am, more than
220 people boarded the Bengaluru-New Delhi train.
In what is perhaps a sign of things to come, the passengers were asked to report at the station 90 minutes ahead of departure for temperature screening. However, many anxious travellers reached the location much earlier to avoid delays. Officials also ensured that the passengers adhered to social distancing guidelines. Masks were compulsory for all.
People coming from Bengaluru, who had gotten off at Secunderabad, were screened for symptoms. Government officials directed them to remain in home quarantine for two weeks. They were stamped on their wrists with the end-date of the quarantine period.
However those, who arrived in the city, faced difficulties reaching homes as cabs, autorickshaws and other public transport services remained banned. Those looking to proceed to other parts of the state had to shell out hefty sums to hire private taxis.
Later in the day, a train from New Delhi to Bengaluru stopped at Secunderabad around 6.20 pm.
The entire station was cordoned off from the general public. Only one entrance, through platform 10, was open for use. Several roads leading to the station were also barricaded by the Hyderabad traffic police.