New Delhi (NVI): In an effort to combat novel coronavirus, Indian Railways today suspended concessional booking of all tickets till further orders.
”To discourage unnecessary travel and to prevent the vulnerable category of Senior Citizens from undertaking unnecessary travels, concessional booking of all tickets except Patients, students and Divyangjan category for Unreserved & Reserved segment are being suspended from 00:00 hrs of 20th March till further advisory, ” the Railways said in an advisory.
The railways has also raised the price of Platform Ticket to Rs. 50 wherever necessary, to avoid unnecessary crowding at Railway Stations in wake of spread of COVID 19. It also instructed DRMs to review the situation over railway stations.
As a precautionary measure and to discourage nonessential travel and overcrowding of trains, so far total 155 pairs of low occupancy trains are cancelled up to 31.03.20, the Rail authorities said.
”Trains are cancelled keeping in view the availability of alternate trains for passengers and ensuring that no passenger shall remain stranded. Full refund is being given to all the passengers whose train has been cancelled, ”it added.
Indian Railways has also facilitated return of students stranded in Northern part of country due to sudden closure of Educational Institutions to their homes in Southern, Northern-Eastern and Eastern regions of India.
The advisories have also been issued to passengers to avoid non-essential train journeys and to ensure that they do not have a running fever while they are commencing the journey. At any point of journey, if a passenger feels that he is having fever, he can contact the Railway Staff for medical attention and further assistance, the statement said.
Regular announcement are being done on PA System of Railway Stations & Trains to sensitize the public about various Do’s & Don’ts highlighting Keeping hands clean by frequent washing of hands; Maintain social distance & covering the mouth while sneezing and coughing, it added.
