Sawant against train halt in Goa as new COVID-19 cases surface

Panaji, May 15 () Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawanthas suggested the Railways to cancel the halt at Madgaon forspecial trains being operated by it as the state records newcases of coronavirus after a gap of more than a month.

He has also said people travelling to the state inspecial trains or flights will have to undergo home quarantinefor 14 days even if they are non-Goans.

Sawant on Thursday said the state government hassuggested to the Railways that a special train from New Delhito Thiruvananthapuram, which will run on May 15 (and arrive inMadgaon on May 16) should not halt at the station in Goa.

He said "720 people have booked tickets on the trainto get down at Madgaon. We have realised that hardly anyone ofthem is Goan.

"We are concerned about what will happen once they getdown. We will have to test them. We will advice them homequarantine, but we are not sure if they will do that. That iswhy we have suggested that the train skip the station."

When contacted, a Konkan Railway official said onFriday "We have no intimation about cancellation of the stoptill now."

After a gap of more than a month, Goa reported eightfresh cases of COVID-19 on Thursday. All the eight patientshad arrived in the state from outside.

On Wednesday, Sawant had said passengers, includingnon-Goans, who arrive in the state by special trains from May15, will have to arrange for their own accommodation and thesame applies to people who arrive by flights.

"They will have to stay indoors at their respectivehotels for 14 days. They cannot enter the beaches, whichremain closed. They cannot come here to enjoy," he said.

Those arriving by flights will be tested at theairport itself, he added.

The Chief Minister said similar arrangements were madeby Mormugao Port Trust (MPT), where people arriving by shipswould be tested, before being allowed to move out. RPSRSY RSY