Railway Infrastructure for Public Use -Covid 19 Lockdown

Railway Infrastructure for Public Use -Covid 19 Lockdown

No. 1338/2020-21

26-03-2020

Secunderabad

Railways Come Up with A Temporary Market for Sale of Essentials In Guntakal Town In The Wake Of Covid 19 Lockdown. Join hands with Municipal authorities to set up well - spread and safe facility.

Where there is a will, there is a way. The popular saying stands affirmed yet again, with Guntakal Division of South Central Railway going beyond the call of duty, to reach out to the common citizens.

The people of Guntakal town, which also is the Railway Divisional Headquarters, have been generally purchasing their daily essentials, mainly Vegetables and Fruits from the regular vegetable market. However, in the wake of the COVID 19 Corona virus, there was a need to explore options to overcome the congestion in the existing markets while duly maintaining adequate social distance. The Railway Officials of Guntakal Division of South Central Railway have come up with a unique solution address duly making use of the railway infrastructure for public use.

Led by Sri Alok Tiwari, Divisional Railway Manager, Guntakal Division have joined hands with the local Municipal administration to set up a temporary market in the huge Railway Ground in Guntakal Town for sale of Vegetables, Fruits and other essentials. The well spread and safe Market place was made ready in a day and commenced sales from today i.e. 26th March 2020. It will continue till the situation eases.

The arrangement at the market in railway grounds includes well laid out, numbered and demarcated spaces for setting up stalls.Ground markings of lines for maintaining social distance by the customers with no possibility of physical contact ensures total safety. Provision of Parking arrangements for the convenience of the customers, is an added incentive. With the municipal administration handling the market which functions from 06.00 am till 09.00 am every day, possibilities of black marketing, quoting of exorbitant rates and sale of sub-standard quality of produce sold is eliminated.

Railway officials of Guntakal Division are coordinating the arrangements jointly with the local Market Management Committee, Municipal authorities and the State Police Department. Appreciating the prompt action of Guntakal Division, Shri Gajanan Mallya, General Manager, SCR was all praise for the initiative and described this as an example of how Indian Railways go beyond their core activities to fulfill social responsibilities by extending a helping hand to the society in critical times. The National Transporter is fully involved in the fight against the spread of the COVID 19 Pandemic, he stressed and also advised all the Divisions to explore the possibilities of setting-up similar such temporary market facilities in other cities and towns, wherever feasible, duly working in association with the concerned State Govt authorities. He also advised people to remain healthy and safe by taking due precautions, so as to cut the dangerous chain of the spreading virus.

Source:South Central Railway