New Delhi (NVI): The Indian Railways today extended the suspension all passenger trains till May 3, in view of the nationwide lockdown extension by 19 days.
Earlier, the Railways had suspended its passenger trains till April 14, under the 21-day lockdown.
“All passenger train services on Indian Railways including Premium trains, Mail/Express trains, Passenger trains, Suburban Trains, Kolkata Metro Rail, Konkan Railway etc shall continue to remain cancel till the 2400hrs of 3rd May 2020,” the Indian Railways said in a tweet.
All passenger train services on Indian Railways including Premium trains, Mail/Express trains, Passenger trains, Suburban Trains, Kolkata Metro Rail, Konkan Railway etc shall continue to remain cancel till the 2400hrs of 3rd May 2020. #IndiaFightsCorona
— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) April 14, 2020
After the lockdown extension announcement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today, the Railways said that all ticket bookings will remain suspended till further orders.
It said that a full refund for reservation will be made for trains cancelled till May 3 and advance bookings for further dates.
No advance reservation of trains tickets, including e-tickets, till further orders, the Railways said, adding that online cancellation facility remains functional.
However, the special freight and parcel services of the Railways, which were active in the last 21 days, will continue in the extended lockdown phase.
Railways continue to run its freight trains to transport essential commodities like medicine and food across the country, amid the COVID-19 situation.
The rail ministry yesterday said that in the first 12 days of April, the Railways loaded and carried 36,724 wagons of foodgrain, 861 wagons of sugar, 1,753 wagons of salt, 606 wagons/tanks of edible oil and 14,317 wagons of fertilizers. One wagon contains 58-60 ton consignment
In a statement, the Ministry of Railways said that this was done “to ensure that kitchens of all Indian homes continue to run normally and farmers in agriculture sector continue to get all necessary inputs for farming.”
Meanwhile, all international and domestic flights also remain suspended till May 3, in view of the extended lockdown.
Both train and flight services were suspended till May 14, under the 21-day lockdown, earlier.
In his address to the nation today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the Government has decided to extend the lockdown till May 3, on the basis of suggestions from the state governments and experts on the current coronavirus situation in the country.
