Coronavirus Threat: Railways Withdraws Concessions In Passenger Fares To Discourage Travel

New Delhi: To discourage non-essential travel amid coronavirus outbreak, the Railway Ministry on Thursday withdrew concessions in passenger fares for all categories, except those for students, persons with disabilities and patients.

It will be applicable from March 20, till further orders.

“To discourage unnecessary travel and to prevent the vulnerable category of senior citizens from undertaking unnecessary travels, concessional booking of all tickets except patients, students and Divyangjan category for unreserved and reserved segment are being suspended from 00:00hrs of 20th March till further advisory,” a press release issued by the Indian Railways said.

It has attributed the decision, which is a special case, to a health advisory issued to control the spread of COVID-19.

The railways provides travel concessions to 51 categories of people, including senior citizens, sportspersons, national awardees, journalists, and unemployed youth.

As a precautionary measure, 155 pairs of low-occupancy trains have also been cancelled till March 31. Full refund is being given to all the passengers, it added.