WR Press Release No. 2020/08 Mumbai, 30thAugust , 2020
WESTERN RAILWAY REFUNDS MORE THAN RS 421 CRORE FOR
CANCELLATION OF TICKETS DUE TO CORONA PANDEMIC
INCURSLOSS OF RS 2350 CRORE TILL DATE
To control the spread ofCovid-19, all passenger trains were stopped since 22nd March 2020 and a complete nationwide lockdown was announced in India. Gradually, Shramik special trains were introduced to carry the migrant labourers and their families to their hometowns. Later, for the convenience of passengers, Indian Railways decided to restore passenger train services in a phased manner. Presently, 230specialtrains for passengers are running , while services of all other regular trains have been cancelled. Tickets booked through IRCTC website for the regular trains were cancelled online and amount credited accordingly, whereas, for passengers who had booked their tickets through PRS counters, at selected nominated stations the PRS counters were restarted for cancellations & booking w.e.f27th May, 2020. The passengers are being given full refund without deduction of any cancellation charges. Due to cancellation of tickets, since 1st March, 2020to 29thAugust, 2020, Western Railway has ensured to return refund amount ofRs. 421.04 crore.
According to a press release issued by Shri Sumit Thakur- Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Rly,the total loss of revenue over Western Railway on account of Corona Virus,has been almost Rs 2350 crore, which includes approx. Rs 355 crore for suburban section andRs 1995 crore for non-suburban. Inspite of the huge losses faced by the railways, the passengers are being given a full refund, therebyreducing their hardships. It's worth mentioning that in this refund amount, Mumbai division alone, has ensured refund of more than Rs 203 crore. Till now, over 65 lakh passengers have cancelled their tickets over entire Western Railway & have received their refund amount accordingly.
ESSENTIALS TRANSPORTED BY WR THROUGH ITS PARCEL & GOODS TRAINS
Despiteadverse effects of corona pandemic,since 23rd March to 29th August, 2020, commodities weighing more than 1.10 lakh tonnes have been transported by Western Rly through its 503 parcel special trains, which mainly included agricultural produce, medicines, fish, milk etc.The revenue generated through this transportation, has been approx. Rs 36.28 crore. During this period, 81 milk special trains were run by Western Rly, with a load of more than 61,500 tonnes and 100% utilization of the wagons. Similarly, 392 Covid-19 special parcel trains with a load of approx. 36,700 thousandtonnes were also run to transport various essential commodities. In addition to this, 30 indented rakes carrying 12,800 tonnes were also run with almost 100% utilization. During the lockdown period from 22nd March till29thAug, 2020, total13,353rakes of goods trains have been used by WR to supply essential commodities amounting to 27.78 million tonnes. 26,269 freight trains have been interchanged with other zonal railways, in which 13,127 trains were handed over and 13,142 trains taken over at different interchange points. On30th Aug, 2020, one parcel special train left from Okha to New Guwahati.
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