Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the country will now remain under lockdown till May 3 to prevent coronavirus infection. To increase the lockdown, Indian Railways also decided to cancel all passenger trains till 12 pm on May 3. Railways has decided that now IRCTC will not provide advance tickets till further orders. Tickets will not be booked in advance after the new date of opening of the lock down on 3 May, according to the media report.
Railways is set to cancel around 39 lakh tickets booked for travel between April 15 and May 3, source told PTI.
IRCTC was continuously booking advance tickets during the lock-down on 14 April and beyond, which also had to face criticism. IRCRC was booking advance tickets and earning from the public in the name of service charge and earning interest on it daily. Putting an end to these criticisms, the Railways has now decided not to get advance tickets.
Railways, said all passengers will get full refund for tickets booked for the cancelled trains as well as for those booked in advance. Railways has also said full refunds would be automatically provided by the national transporter for its online customers, while those who have booked at the counters can take the refunds up to July 31.
“For trains cancelled until 3rd May 2020 by Indian Railways, full refund will be provided automatically by IRCTC. Users need not cancel their e-tickets. Full fare will be credited back into users accounts from which payment was made.
Passengers who have already cancelled their E-tickets from train cancelled by Railways will also be eligible for refund of full ticket fare including cancellation/clerkage charges.
No advance reservation of train tickets, including E-tickets, till further advice, however, facility of online cancellation will remain functional.
Full refund will also be there for those cancelling the advance bookings of tickets for trains not yet cancelled.”
Parcel trains and goods trains will continue to operate during lock-down as well, to carry essential goods to different parts of the country.