In a yet another major resumption towards the gradual pullout from the lockdown, the Southern Railway has on Tuesday announced the resumption of the Chennai local trains for the general public and they can travel in the trains from Wednesday during the non-peak hours and the commuters have been advised to adhere to the COVID-19 norms and guidelines during their travel and at the station premises. 

The re-opening, which is the third phase of resumption for the local trains, has come at a high time when the city has been bracing up series of concerns over the emergence of the new Coronavirus strain which has brought the state health department under high alert. The Southern Railway has made the announcement of resumption on Tuesday as part of its graded opening of local train services. 

According to the announcement, the general public can travel in suburban services all through the day except during peak hours. The peak hour has been defined as 7 am to 9.30 am and 4.30 to 7 pm every day and they won't be allowed to travel in the local trains during the peak hours. According to the Southern Railway, the services during peak hours are only open to those who are attached to the essential services.

The Southern Railway has announced the first phase of resumption of the Chennai local trains months back and as part of the first phase, the Railway Board had operated the workmen special services only for the workers of the essential services. The Railway had asked the essential workers to show their identity cards and a special permit authorized by the concerned authorities if they want to commute in the workmen specials. 

Months after the first phase of the resumption, the Southern Railway had rolled out the second phase of the resumption during which the Railways had permitted the female passengers to travel in the suburban trains and now, when the state has been reporting a sharp decline in the COVID-19 cases, the Southern Railway has announced the third phase of the resumption on Tuesday, which has come into effect from Wednesday.

By restricting the general public from traveling during peak hours, the Southern Railway has advised the people to wear the mask and adhere to the COVID-19 guidelines at the station premises and while they board the trains during the non-peak hours. According to reports, Southern Railway runs 410 suburban services, which is 65% of Chennai's suburban sector. 

According to the state health department, Tamil Nadu has reported 8,09,014 COVID-19 cases so far as of Tuesday of which 9,391 are active cases, 7,87,611 people have cured and discharged while 12,012 people had succumbed to the viral infection.