Due to the rapid surge in the coronavirus cases in India, the Government has extended the lockdown till 3rd May 2020. All flights and passenger trains that were supposed to resume from 15th April onwards have been suspended till the last date of the extended lockdown. Passengers who had made railway and flight bookings till 3rd May will get full refunds or pre-paid coupons to be utilized later.
How Is It Happening?
The Ministry of Railways has informed that all passenger train services including premium trains, suburban trains, metro services, express trains, etc. shall continue to remain stalled till the midnight of 3rd May. Domestic and international airlines have halted their services till 11.59 PM on the same date. No advance bookings will be taken for railways until further notice, as per the ministry.
Also, railway passengers will receive a full refund for cancelled trains till 3rd May. Those who had booked e-tickets will automatically get the full fare credited back to their accounts. For cancelled flights, passengers will get a pre-paid coupon with the cancelled amount. They can avail the coupon to book flights on a later date.
Also Read: Airlines To Give Pre-Paid Coupons Instead Of Refunds For Cancelled Flights
What’s Operating?
Parcel special trains carrying essential commodities like vegetables, fruits, dairy products, etc. will continue to operate. Freight trains and cargo flights will also be running during this time. Flights employed by foreign countries to take back their citizens might operate, only after the DGCA confirms the same. Indian Railways has already transformed 5,000 coaches into quarantine facilities for COVID-19 patients. It’s planning to convert another 15,000 more.
Also Read: Now, Railway Coaches Might Get Converted Into Isolation Wards To Treat COVID-19 Patients
The extension of the ban on the airline and train services has broken the hearts of many who were eagerly waiting to return home now. However, there’s nothing more important than safety at this point of time. Travelling can wait, the virus won’t.