The Mamata Banerjee government on Monday announced that suburban local trains would run till 10pm instead of the 7pm announced on Sunday in an apparent bid to ensure that Covid curbs don’t hamper people’s livelihood.

“Local/suburban trains shall operate with 50 per cent seating capacity up to 10pm instead of 7pm as notified earlier, i.e., the last train shall depart from the originating station at 10pm,” reads a notification issued by chief secretary H.K. Dwivedi on Monday.

Sources in Nabanna said the decision was taken after it was found that the earlier deadline (7pm) for operating suburban local trains was creating inconvenience for lakhs of people who come to Calcutta from the suburbs daily for work.

“It was felt that the 7pm deadline could cause inconvenience for lakhs of people who work in the private sector. Government employees can catch trains by 7pm, but many who work in the private sector can’t. So, the deadline was revised without delay,” said a senior government official.

Crowding was another issue, sources said, that forced the administration to extend the timing. “If the deadline stayed 7pm, it would have been almost impossible to ensure that trains ran with 50 per cent seating capacity. Everyone would have rushed to catch the last few trains after work. That could have thrown Covid protocols out of gear,” said a source.

Some officials said a series of agitations in the surrounding areas of Calcutta throughout Monday against the 7pm deadline may have prompted the quick extension of timing.

“Importantly, the state government realised the problems and revised the deadline immediately. It makes it clear that the state government is keen on saving livelihoods and lives,” said a senior official.

The state government has asked all the district magistrates to put micro-containment zones in place in case four or five positive cases are found in any particular area.

“Micro-containment zones can be set up with a couple of houses or an entire residential building,” said an official.

Senior officials said district authorities have been asked to increase the number of Covid tests too.

The state government has also asked DMs to ensure strict Covid protocols in fairs in the next few weeks across the state. “The state government is not cancelling fairs as doing so will hurt the livelihood of artisans and self-help groups. But DMs have been asked to maintain strict safety protocol,” said a bureaucrat.

Gangasagar PIL

A public interest litigation (PIL) was moved by a physician before Calcutta High Court seeking an order to restrain the state government from holding Gangasagar Mela this year. The Calcutta-based petitioner claimed that some three lakh pilgrims and others were expected to visit Sagar Island for the fair which had the potential to spread Covid. So, the court should take steps to stop the fair, the petitioner has argued.

The petition is likely to be heard by the division bench headed by the Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court Prakash Shrivastava in a couple of days.