Coronavirus: Railways announces slew of measures to discourage non-essential travel

Indian Railways has taken a slew of measures in order to contain the spread of COVID-19 virus. The measures are being implemented across all the zones and relate to dis-incentivizing non-essential travel. These measures are in accordance with repeated advisories of the government to minimize the unnecessary travel and social distancing. Note that recently, Prime Minister Modi gave a clarion call to the nation to not to lower the guard against the Novel Coronavirus. While advising the nation to stay patient, he had also implored the citizens to stay at home, observe social distancing and avoid crowding. Steps taken by Railways to control the spread of COVID-19: Railways has taken steps to discourage citizens from undertaking non-essential journeys by temporarily removing special incentives for many categories which had been existing for their travel. The national transporter has done this by pruning the categories of travellers who were previously entitled to avail concessions. Out of the 55 different categories which were entitled for concession, now only 23 subcategories under patients, students and Divyangjans will continue to avail concessions for both unreserved and reserved segments w.e.f from 00:00 hrs of March 20. As per the new provisions, passengers who had booked tickets on concessions are being allowed to travel on those tickets as per extant rule. That means that for railway tickets already purchased before 00:00 hrs 20th March 2020, in case of travel, no difference in fare shall be collected.