(TAN): As India moves towards the end of its third phase of nationwide lockdown, the Indian Railways will “partially” restore passenger train services starting today, with 15 pairs of special trains running across the country every day.
These trains will operate from the country’s capital New Delhi to major stations all over India including Dibrugarh, Agartala, Howrah, Patna, Bilaspur, Ranchi, Bhubaneswar, Secunderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram, Madgaon, Mumbai Central, Ahmedabad and Jammu Tawi for a total of 30 return journeys per day.
Railways Minister Piyush Goyal confirmed the news with a tweet over the weekend.
“Railways plans to gradually restart passenger train operations from 12th May, 2020, initially with 15 pairs of special trains connectiong New Delhi with major stations across India. Booking in these trains will start at 4 pm on 11th May,” he tweeted.
The services, additional to the existing Shramik special trains, will reportedly have only a few stoppages. These trains will only have air-conditioned coaches, with fares similar to that of current Rajdhani Express trains.
Passengers can only book tickets online through IRCTC website or mobile app. While the ticket booking counters at railway stations shall remain closed, reserving tickets through agents will not be allowed. Provision for tatkal and premium tatkal will not be available – customers will be able to book their tickets not more than seven days ahead of their journey.
The Ministry of Home Affairs said “only those passengers with confirmed e-tickets shall be allowed to enter the station”. Waitlisted tickets, those booked by ticketing staff onboard the train, and unreserved tickets will not be valid.
Passengers will be compulsorily screened before boarding and only the asymptomatic ones will be allowed to board the trains. They are advised to reach the station at least 90 minutes in advance to undergo thermal screening and other health measures. Travellers must wear face masks and observe physical distancing at the station and during travel. They will be given hand sanitisers at entry and exit points, and inside the trains. Upon reaching, all passengers will have to follow health protocols laid down by the destination state or union territory.
The ministry said passengers will not be charged for catering services since pre-paid meal booking and e-catering services will be discontinued. Passengers will be able to buy bottled water and limited food options from IRCTC, the information for which will be available during ticket reservation. Passengers are advised to bring their own food and drinking water, along with linen as no blankets or curtains will be available onboard the trains to minimise chances of infection.
Customers will only be able to cancel their tickets online up to 24 hours before the scheduled time of departure of their trains, while paying half of the price of the ticket as cancellation fee.
All other regular passenger services such as mail or express trains, passenger and suburban services will continue to remain cancelled until further notice from the government, the railway ministry said.
Passenger train services were suspended from March 22 since the lockdown started in a bid to slow the spread of COVID-19.
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