Indian Railways had issued a new set of travel guidelines after resuming services of 15 pairs of passenger trains amid lockdown. As per the guidelines, the travellers were first ‘advised’ to download the Aarogya Setu mobile app. But in a recent tweet, railways has confirmed that downloading the app is a ‘mandatory’ step for the passengers. Read on to know the details.
What Happened?
Soon after beginning its services for the special passenger trains on 12th May 2020, Ministry of Railways made a post on Twitter stating, “It is mandatory for passengers to download Aarogya Setu app in their mobile phones, before commencing their journey.”
Indian Railways is going to start few passenger trains services. It is mandatory for passengers to download Aarogya Setu app in their mobile phones, before commencing their journey
Download this app now –
Android : https://t.co/bpfHKNLHmD
IOS : https://t.co/aBvo2Uc1fQ pic.twitter.com/MRvP8QBVPU— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) May 11, 2020
Almost every traveller has an Andriod phone on which they can install the application. However, railway officials have reported that they will handle exceptions on a case-by-case basis. For example, all migrant workers might not possess a phone. Therefore the app is not compulsory on the ‘Shramik special’ trains carrying the migrants.
What Else?
IRCTC has already sold tickets of more than ₹16 crores for the special trains, which clearly suggests that the number of passengers commuting is quite large. The Aarogya Setu app notifies whenever its user comes in contact with an affected person. It also gives detailed statistics about nearby cases. Therefore having the app on the phone will be a benefit for both the passengers and the railway staffs interacting with them.
Also Read: Here’s All That You Need To Know If You Are Travelling By Train Now
If you haven’t installed the app yet, download it right away and stay updated about the necessary COVID-19 related information of your surroundings. You can also take a self-health assessment through the app if required.
First Published: May 13, 2020 11:29 AM