New Delhi: In the wake of a surge in COVID-19 cases, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has reduced the frequency of Mumbai-Ahmedabad Tejas Express from five days to three days a week, IRCTC said on Tuesday. The change takes effect from January 12 and will remain in place until February 10, the Indian Railways' catering and tourism arm said in a regulatory filing to the stock exchanges. The Mumbai-Ahmedabad Tejas Express will not run on Wednesday and Monday every week.
"Pursuant to Regulation 30 of SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015 and in furtherance to above referred letter, it is to be informed that in view of the resurgence of COVID cases, IRCTC has decided to reduce the frequency of train no. 82902/82901 ADI – MMCT – ADI Tejas Express from present 5 days a week to 3 Days in a week w.e.f 12.01.2022 (12th inclusive) to 10.2.2022 (train shall not operate on Wednesday and Monday in each week)," IRCTC told the bourses.
"The train is planned to continue running five days a week as per present schedule w.e.f 11.02.2022," it added.
IRCTC had recently restored the frequency of Mumbai-Ahmedabad Tejas Express to five days a week on December 22, 2021. Earlier in 2021, IRCTC had suspended the Ahmedabad-Mumbai Tejas Express from April 2, 2021 due to second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Later on August 7, 2021, IRCTC had announced the resumption of services of Tejas Express to four times a week.
Commenting on the change announced by IRCTC on Tuesday, a senior official said, "We have taken this hard decision keeping in mind the safety of our passengers and to minimise inconvenience."
The news comes as India recorded 1,68,063 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours. According to the data released by the Health Ministry, a total of 4,461 cases of Omicron have been reported in India so far and a total of 1,711 people have reported recovery. Maharashtra has reported the highest number of Omicron cases in India at 1,247. Even though the Central government has not imposed a lockdown so far, state governments are putting restrictions in place periodically to contain the spread of the virus.
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