As the Tamil Nadu government has permitted the intra-district travels in 25 districts in the fourth spell of the lockdown, it has been expected that the state would see further relaxations and resumptions of the transportation channels after May 31st, which is the deadline of the current spell of the lockdown.

Although the government eyes to keep tight restrictions in some of the areas, it has also been preparing to resume the train services across the state likely from June 1st. The current extension of the lockdown has consented the travel within the district and the upcoming guidelines might permit the inter-district travels.

According to the reports, the state government has been planning to permit the resumption of the public transport between districts and as part of it, the government has requested the Indian Railways to resume the services in the state apart from Chennai. The Indian Railways would be resuming 200 passenger trains across the country from June 1st. 

The reports stated that the Southern Railways has asked the railway board to re-commence the non-AC train services in four routes (Coimbatore- Mayiladuthurai, Katpadi-Coimbatore, Villupuram - Madurai, Trichy- Nagercoil) and the date of resumption of these services would be announced soon after the Indian Railways permits the commencement, signaling that the state would see the resumption of the train services after two months of remaining under suspension in wake of the lockdown. 

The announcement of the relaxations would be made by the state government while the current lockdown hits its deadline and if the government permits the inter-district travels, it would consent to resume the train and public transport services in selected areas and the areas that are not designated as containment zones. 

On Tuesday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami has convened a meet with the expert committee to formulate the road ahead for the state on whether to extend the lockdown after May 31st. Although the government eyes to exit the lockdown, the soaring high cases have apparently signaled that pulling out the state from the lockdown in one shot won't be possible at this juncture. Currently, the stations in the state operate Shramik special trains which are ferrying the stranded migrant workers to their home states.

Also read: Lockdown 5.0 in Tamil Nadu? CM EPS to decide after meeting the panel!