Rail, air passengers in a fix over travel plans from April 15

TNN | Apr 5, 2020, 14:38 IST

File photo of Jaipur railway station

JAIPUR: There is no official word from the Centre about withdrawal of lockdown after April 14. However, the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is allowing booking from April 15. Though booking are allowed, the railway board clarified that they have no intimation on resumption of services.
This has added to confusion among passengers. TOI on Saturday checked IRCTC website to know if bookings were open from April 15. For trains like Jaipur-Delhi Double Decker, over 900 seats are available. Similarly, booking are allowed on trains from Jaipur to Mumbai, Jaipur to Kolkata, Jaipur to Chandigarh, etc.
Gaurav Nagar, a businessman who is stuck in Jaipur for the past 15 days, has booked ticket for Ahmedabad on April 16. “If lockdown continues, they should not have allowed the booking. I have urgency to return to Ahmedabad. But I am not sure if can travel,” he said.
However, authorities had said railways in its system had never cancelled the bookings for April 15 and thereafter and can’t do that. “We take advance booking for 120 days prior to the journey. Even before lockdown was announced, many have booked tickets for April 15 and thereafter. So for them, we are yet to hear from the railway board and our ministry,” said an official. On Saturday, railways said in a statement that no final decision had been taken on restoration of services and that a call on it would be taken in a few days.
Abhay Sharma, chief public relations officer, NWR, said, “The bookings for trains originating post April 14 were never stopped. However, the authorities are fully aware of the matter and will take appropriate action in due course, with advance intimation to all.”
Meanwhile, various airlines too have started bookings. But the airlines operators have not yet given any official statement in this regard. Various Apps booking airlines ticket are giving ticket to Mumbai in Rs 3,247 to Rs 3,500, for Kolkata Rs 14,734 for Delhi Rs 8000 to Rs 11,000 per passenger. “We have no intimation on resuming of air operations from April 15 onwards,” said a senior officer of Jaipur airport.