Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi (SD)

New Delhi, Apr 15: In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic lockdown extended till May 3, the railways is all set to cancel nearly 39 lac tickets booked between April 15 to May 3.

Previously, when the first phase of lockdown was announced until April 14, the national transporter allowed advanced bookings beginning from the day the lockdown would end. This led to nearly 39 lac tickets booked. Following the extended lockdown, the railways not only cancelled the tickets but also have stopped advanced booking.

Before any further announcement was made regarding the journey on tickets that were already booked, thousands of migrant workers gathered at the Bandra railway station hoping to board the trains and return back to their home. Subsequently the crowd was dispursed, but led many to question why the railways had kept the bookings open in times of such uncertainty.

The railways have assured to refund the money and said that those who had booked online would get the money transferred automatically while those who have booked at the stations could claim the refund until July 31.

The railways further said that passengers whose trains are not cancelled yet could cancel their tickets and avail the refund. Henceforth, no further online booking will be available until further orders yet the cancellation and refund facility would continue.

The railways said, "As far as the trains cancelled upto May 3 are concerned, the refund would be made automatically by the railways to online customers, while those who have booked at the counters can claim the refund till July 31. A full fund will be given for the bookings made for the trains cancelled. A full refund will also be there for those cancelling advance bookings for trains not cancelled yet."

Prior to the lockdown, daily nearly 8.5 lac tickets were booked on an average. Post lockdown, around 15, 523 trains have been affected including 3,000 mail express trains which had in turn affected about 9,000 passengers.