Suburban train services in Chennai would be resuming from October 5, nearly after seven months of remaining shut. However, the services won't be like how it was before COVID-19 lockdown, instead, the suburban trains can only ply the people attached to the essential services, who are authorized by the Tamil Nadu government. 

The order of resuming the services of local trains was issued on Friday and it had restricted the general public from using the services. Southern Railway has announced that staff members who wish to utilize the services, which would be called 'Workmen special', should get prior authorization from the government officer nominated by the state government for this specific purpose. 

On Friday, Southern Railway has issued a press release in which it has said that the details of the trains that will operate from October 5 will be displayed at the stations. As per the COVID-19 protocols, the Southern Railway stated that the local trains will be disinfected and sanitized at regular intervals and passengers must stick to the guidelines and they are mandated to wear masks and maintain social distancing at the stations and in the trains. 

Passengers will be screened at the entry point of stations. The press release stated that the passengers will be allowed to board the train only if they have specific travel permission. The specific travel permission shall have details such as name, designation, department, and office of the passenger. This original document will be accepted by the Railways along with the photo ID card of the person issued by his/her office. 

The Southern Railway further stated that both the single journey and season tickets will be issued at the booking counters available at all suburban stations through the unreserved ticketing system. It has added that the essential services staff must carry the specific travel permit issued by the nodal officer in original along with the photo ID without which they won't be permitted inside the stations and trains. 

According to reports, the state government offices and departments will be issuing the travel permits of the employees who fall under the category of the essential services. Such employees must carry the original permit and their ID cards as these documents are a must and only through this document, they can be permitted to enter the stations, buy tickets, and travel in these workmen special trains and the reports added that the workmen special trains will be functioning only on suburban routes and not on the MRTS line.