New Delhi:
At the time of the coronavirus, the Indian railways decided to sell masks, gloves, hand sanitizers, kits of bed rolls on the multipurpose shelves of the platforms. As a precautionary measure to check for COVID-19 infection, it is now mandatory to use masks when you leave your home or when you are traveling.
Hand sanitizers and fresh rolls are important for people traveling during these times. Sheets and pillows are no longer given to passengers after the start of rail services, when the lock has been relaxed in phases. This was done to check the spread of the deadly virus.
The platform stalls, managed by private contractors, will now keep the items that travelers may need for best hygiene practices. In addition to toiletries, books, over-the-counter medications and packaged food, stalls will now sell essential items needed to protect passengers from coronavirus, according to instructions issued by the Railway Commission.
“Recognizing that passengers traveling during these periods may require certain items, which they should purchase in case they forget to obtain them from home, we have ordered our multi-purpose stands to sell them. They must be sold at MRP and no profit will be allowed, “a senior railway official told the PTI news agency. Bed roll kits will include pillows, blankets and towels. “Since we stopped donating these items due to the pandemic, passengers can carry their own or buy from the stands,” said the official.
Indian railways say this was done to make travel more comfortable for passengers while ensuring that all government guidelines for COVID-19 are followed.