After a long wait, the Indian Railways has released the programme for refund of tickets cancelled due to cancellation of passenger train services during the lockdown. As per the information,the programme begins from May 26 onwards and would continue in seven stages indicating Railways is going quite slow in returning the money locked with them since last three months.
The ticket windows were gradually opened a fewdays back and large number of people turned up seeking refund as they had been waiting since long.However, Railways while opening the PRS stated that validity of tickets issued for the Mail/Express train is upto six months thereby increasing the refund period.However, daily the ticket booking clerks had to face heat of travellers who were pressing for refund. All the refund will be of full amount and no deduction will be made since Railways on its part had cancelled the long distance passenger carrying train services to contain the outbreak of coronavirus infection. At the ticket windows the travellers would need to follow all the instructions and follow social distancing, wear masks and use hand sanitizers.
At present, in Nagpur railway station, city four ticket counters of passenger reservation system (PRS) are opened, including two at Nagpur Railway Station and two at Ajni. In case there is sudden increase in those seeking refund then divisions has option of increasing the windows to speed up the process and avoid unnecessary detention of citizens on railway premises.
Here is the ticket refund schedule
Ticket booked period Refund date March 22 to 31 May 26 onwards April 1 to 14 June 01 onwards April 15 to 30 June 07 onwards May1to 15 June 14 onwards May 16 to 31 June 21 onwards June 1 to 30 June 28 onwards.