MARGAO: Atleast 317 passengers disembarked from the Thiruvananthapuram-Delhi Rajdhani Express and the Delhi-Margao Rajdhani Express which arrived at the Margao Railway station on Saturday.
All the 33 passengers who were on the Thiruvananthapuram-Delhi train were tested negative by evening. The samples of 282 passengers on the Delhi-Goa train were being tested till late night.
However, there was a lot of hue and cry over the payment for the test with some passengers refusing to pay and others claiming they could not afford the same.
Thirty three passengers arrived on the Thiruvananthapuram-Delhi train while 282 came by the Delhi-Margao train. After alighting from the trains all passengers were sent by KTC buses to the New District Hospital for testing.
Initially there was a buzz that atleast 800 passengers would alight from the Delhi-Goa train. Later it was reealed that due to non-availability of tickets at stations along the route those who had booked tickets for the entire journey alighted at the stations along the way. Several passengers had to book the entire journey after boarding at Mumbai.
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said, “Test results for 35 people who came from Trivandrum via the rail have been reported negative”.
Meanwhile, there was a lot of confusion and anger among the Goans over the fees for testing. COVID-19 test is mandatory on arrival in Goa and Rs 2000 per person is charged for the test except from those who are covered under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana or any other exempted category like persons serving in the Armed Forces and others.
A passenger, Linita Fernandes from Aldona said she is not in agreement with the fees levied on Goans who are returning to their homes.
“This is wrong. We have paid a huge sum for the tickets already and still we have to pay for the test to return to our homeland,” she said.
Later she was told that if she does not wish to pay she will be sent back to the destination she came. So she paid Rs 2000 for the test.
Manohar Dicholkar Teli who came from Mumbai created a scene at the station by refusing to pay for the test. “The Government has increased taxes on alcohol and other things and I feel they should pass on the same to the poor Goans who want to return to Goa and can’t afford to pay this fee,” he said.
Eventually he called the Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly and Bicholim MLA Rajesh Patnekar and the Speaker paid for his test via e-transfer.
Many others also expressed anger. However, the authorities were clear and said all passengers have already been informed via terms and conditions while purchasing the ticket that they will have to pay for the test.
The Collector of South Goa Ajit Roy, IAS who planned the entire exercise told the media, “This is the decision of the state Government. All I can say is all the passengers have to pay for the test”.
All the passengers who were unable to pay were later taken to the hospital for testing. By 8 pm all the 33 passengers from the Thiruvananthapuram- Delhi train were sent home and transport was arranged for those who did not have their own mode of transport.
