New Delhi, Mar 22 (UNI) In an effort to contain the fast spread of Novel Coronavirus across the country, the government on Sunday decided to suspend all railway operations till March 31.

However, the goods trains have been exempted.

No passenger train will be allowed to operate till March 31, while trains finishing their journeys will terminate at the last point. Only goods trains will run from March 22 midnight till March 31 midnight, the Indian Railways said.

'All passenger train services on Indian Railways, including premium train services, mail/express trains, passenger trains, suburban trains, Kolkata Metro and Konkan Raiways, have been cancelled till March 31," the Railways said in a statement here.

As per the Indian railways, minimum suburban services, including the Kolkata Metro service, will continue till March 22 midnight. Thereafter, the services will stop till March 31 midnight. The decision was taken during a meeting of the Railways board on Sunday.

However, the trains that have already commenced their journey, prior to 0400 hrs on March 22, will run up to their destinations, the Railways said.
"Adequate arrangements shall be made for the passengers, who have commenced their journey during the travel and at their destinations," the statement added.

The Railways said to ensure essential supplies in different parts of the country, movement of goods trains will continue. For those who have already booked train tickets, the Railways will provide full refund for all cancelled trains till March 21.

'Adequate arrangements shall be made to facilitate hassle-free refund to passengers affected by train cancellations,' the statement added.

The Railways had earlier decided to cancel all passenger trains on Sunday, to support the Janta Curfew call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The decision was taken in view of the fact that the demand for rail travel would be vastly reduced during the Janta Curfew, the Ministry of Railways had said.

In his address to the nation on Thursday, the Prime Minister had urged the people to observe "Janata Curfew" on March 22, from 0700 hrs to 2100 hrs. Mr Modi appealed to the people to stay away from public places and stay at home.

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