IRCTC has suspended operations of three private trains till April 30, and will provide a full refund on reservations made for journeys up to this date. By Tanvi Jain
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Amid speculations of the current lockdown period likely to be extended beyond April 14, in light of rising cases of COVID-19 in the country, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has suspended operations of three private trains till April 30.
These trains include — IRCTC Tejas Express (82501/82502) that runs between Lucknow and New Delhi, IRCTC Tejas Express (82901/82902) between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, and IRCTC Kashi Mahakal Express train on the Varanasi-Indore route. However, the railway body has assured that it will provide a full refund without any cancellation charges for tickets booked for journeys up to April 30.
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Moreover, lending a hand in the fight against coronavirus, the IRCTC has also introduced 109 Time-tabled parcel trains on over 58 routes, to transport essential goods for industry, agriculture and citizens. “Wheels of Change: Railways has scaled up operations of Special Parcel Trains to boost nationwide transportation of essential commodities, ensuring uninterrupted supply for the people. India Post has also joined as a user of these parcel trains for benefit of citizens,” tweeted Railway Minister Piyush Goyal. Medical supplies including medical examination gloves are also being transported from the Shores of Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat to Tughlakabad in Delhi and Kanakpura in Jaipur.
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Many railway coaches have also been turned into isolation wards, with all the necessary medical facilities to comfortably quarantine the patients. “Geared up to Fight COVID-19: in a novel initiative, railway coaches have been converted into isolation wards for Coronavirus patients,” Goyal further tweeted, adding, that the railways has earmarked 5,000 beds for COVID-19 patients, and has deployed more than 2,500 doctors and 35,000 paramedical staff, for prompt and quality healthcare services to the citizens.
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He further confirmed the recent distribution of over 8.5 lakh cooked meals by Railways to the needy. “In continuation to its mission to provide food to the needy, today #IRCTC along with local administration distributed 19.50 tonnes of welfare meals at 29 locations across #India. #IndiaFightsCorona,” The IRCTC further tweeted.
The organisation also recently donated its share in the PM Cares Fund, saying, “#India is at the forefront of the battle against life-altering #Covid19. To reach out to those affected, #IRCTC contributed 20 Cr & 1-day salary of Rs 20 Lacs to #PMCARESFund. You too can make a contribution in whatever way possible.”
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Further highlighting its contributions during the pandemic, the Railway Ministry tweeted, “Indian Railways also on the forefront to safeguard India from COVID-19 Railways has produced about 6 lakh reusable face masks and more than 40,000 litres of hand sanitiser All Railway Zones, Production Units &PSUs are involved in the production.”
“Indian Railways has taken up the in-house production of PPE type overall on a mission mode. Facilities are being geared up in Railways to make up to 1000 protective overall for Railway Doctors & Paramedics every day,” the tweet added.
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