Government of West Bengal
Home & Hill Affairs Department and Parliamentary Affairs Department
“NABANNA”
325, Sarat Chatterjee Road Howrah 711 102
Ph. 2214 5656; Fax: 2214 3001
No. 193/HS/PS/2021 Dated 5th May, 2021
TO
Shri Suneet Sharma
Chairman & CEO
Railway Board Government of India
New Delhi
Subject: RT-PCR testing restrictions on long distance train passengers coming from outside to West Bengal -Reg
Sir,
You are aware that there has been a sharp rise in the number of Covid 19 cases being reported from all over the country including West Bengal in the recent past. Further, a large number of districts/ sub-districts across the country are showing test positivity higher than 10% thereby getting classified as local containment zones as per para 4 of the annexure to the MHA, Gol order No 40-3/2020-DM-I(A) dated 29th April, 2021 read with the DO No Z. 28015/85/2021-DM Cell dated 25th April of the Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, GoI.
Considering such alarming rise of cases in this pandemic situation and in order to ensure that the chain of transmission of Covid virus is broken, I am to inform that, as per the provisions of section 2 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, and in accordance with the intensive action and strategic areas of intervention identified in para 6 of the aforesaid order of the National Disaster Management Authority, the state government has decided to make it mandatory for all long distance train passengers coming to West Bengal from outside the state to possess an RT-PCR negative test report for a test conducted within 72 hours of such train departure. It is requested that such restrictions may be imposed with immediate effect for a period of two weeks.
Further, notwithstanding such RT-PCR negative report, proper thermal and health screening of all passengers must also be conducted by the railway staff before boarding. A detailed SOP is also enclosed along with which may be followed by the Railway authorities.
Accordingly, Railway Board may kindly instruct all concerned Railway authorities to take necessary steps so that only such negatively tested passengers are allowed to book tickets on long distance trains to West Bengal.
Yours faithfully,
Sd/- H. K. Dwivedi, IAS
Additional Chief Secretary
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