No premium or Tatkal; Railways issues guidelines for passengers

Hyderabad: With 200 passenger trains to start operations from 1 June, in addition to the Sharmik special trains and special AC trains, the Railways has come up with a set of guidelines for passengers. The bookings had already commenced from 21 May.

The tickets can now be booked online through the IRCTC websites, the CSC, and ticketing agents. The advance reservation period will be a maximum of 30 days and Tatkal and Premium Tatkal booking services won't be restored.

The Railways said that all quotas would be permitted in regular trains.

The concession would be allowed in only four categories for the disabled and in 11 ailment-related categories. Rules regarding cancellation of tickets and refunds of the fare would remain the same. Ticket fare would be refunded if he or she is denied travel upon exhibiting symptoms of infection by the Corona virus.

While entering the station passengers have to keep in mind that entry and exit points at the stations would be separate where ever feasible. Only passengers with confirmed tickets would be allowed into the station and they have to reach the station 90 minutes in advance.

Railways said that the usual fares would be charged for general, reserved, and second seating coaches and there would be no unreserved coaches in trains and no tickets would be issued onboard.

The first chart would be prepared four hours before the scheduled departure and ticket holders on the waiting list would not be permitted to board the train. Apart from the scheduled trains the regular passenger train services would remain canceled.

Catering charges would not be included in the fare and there would be no provision for pre-booking a meal online. IRCTC would provide some food but the passengers are encouraged to carry their own food and drinking water.