New Delhi: Extending support to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for Janata Curfew to fight coronavirus, Indian Railways has cancelled all passengers trains starting midnight Saturday to 10 PM Sunday.
However, the trains that are already running will be allowed to reach their destinations, the Railways said.
Indian Railways decision will result in cancellation of more than 3,700 passenger locomotives and long-distance mail, express trains, which were scheduled for Sunday. According to the railways, “No passenger or express train will originate from any railway station on the country between Saturday/Sunday midnight to 10:00 pm on Sunday”. Intracity rail services in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, and Secunderabad will also be minimized to and a minimum number of trains will ply for essential travel.
Over 1,300 long-distance mail and express trains will also get cancelled as per the order issued by the Indian Railways.
“Arrangements will be made to facilitate hassle-free refund to passengers affected by train cancellations,” a notification issued by the Railways stated.
Suburban services in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi and Secunderabad will be reduced to a “bare minimum” to cater only to “essential travel”, it added.
Besides, all long-distance mail/express trains and intercity trains originating between 4 am and 10 pm on Sunday (the day of the curfew) are also cancelled. However, trains running will be allowed to reach their destination.
Addressing the nation on Thursday, PM Narendra Modi appealed the people of India to follow ‘Janata Curfew’, a self-imposed curfew by the people, on Sunday from 7 AM to 9 PM to prevent the spread of highly contagious Coronavirus (COVID-19).
The Prime Minister urged people not to move out of their homes on 22nd March. He also urged the state governments, organizations like the NCC and NSS, which are led by youth, civil society and other organizations to actively encourage citizens to follow ‘Janata Curfew’ and stay inside their homes.