Hyderabad: Indian Railways discouraging non-essential travel

Secunderabad: Indian Railways has initiated additional precautionary measures to control the spread of novel Coronavirus.

In view of Health Advisory issued regarding COVID-19, to discourage vulnerable passengers undertaking non-essential travel (including Sr. Citizens), it has been decided as a special case, to suspend all concession for UTS and PRS tickets (Reserved & Unreserved) for all categories of passengers except Students, four categories of Divyangjan and 11 categories of Patients from March 20 till further advice. This will be applicable to all tickets on or before March 20.

As a precautionary measure, a total of 42 trains of low occupancy have been cancelled by South Central Railway and 155 pairs of trains over Indian Railways up to 31st March. Trains are cancelled keeping in view the availability of alternate trains for passengers and ensuring that no passenger shall remain stranded. Full refund is being given to all the passengers whose train has been cancelled.

To avoid unnecessary crowding at railway stations & platforms, platform ticket fare has been increased to Rs 50 in all major railway stations (NSG-1 to NSG-4 & suburban category), while it has been increased to Rs 20 at the small stations (NSG-5 & NSG-6 category) until March 31 over SCR jurisdiction.

Regular Announcement are being done on PA System of Railway Stations & Trains to sensitise the public about various do's & don'ts such as: keeping hands clean by frequent washing of hands; Maintain social distance & covering the mouth while sneezing and coughing; Precautions to be taken if one has running fever-(don't travel and report immediately to the doctor); Not spitting anywhere in the public place and Railway premises and avoid overcrowding and to ensure distancing between passengers in trains including suburban trains.