New Delhi. Amidst the Indigo crisis, people have increasingly started turning towards the Railways. The impact of sudden cancellation and delay of a large number of flights of Indigo Airline is not limited to the air route only, but its impact is clearly visible on the rail route as well. There has been a sudden increase in the demand for tickets in trains going from Delhi to major cities of the country. Passengers covering distances ranging from 700 to 1000 kilometers have now started choosing trains as their primary option. An unusual increase in demand for tickets has been seen especially in trains going from Delhi to Kolkata, Mumbai, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Jammu and Srinagar. According to railway sources, the number of passengers suddenly started increasing from yesterday and there has been a huge increase in ticket booking through Tatkal quota.
Number of passengers increased on the platform
Overnight journey trains are completely full at this time due to which many passengers are joining the waiting list. The effect of this sudden increase in crowd is also being seen at railway stations. Due to increase in the number of passengers on the platform, the administration has to deploy additional staff and security personnel. Many people are now considering trains as the primary option for long distance travel, due to which the pressure on Tatkal and online booking platforms has increased.
Railway’s appeal
The Railway Ministry and Railway Administration are keeping a close watch on this situation. Passengers are being appealed to plan their journey in advance and book tickets and avoid traveling during rush hour. However, due to the problem of cancellation and delay in Indigo flights, the growing trend towards rail route is not slowing down. From this situation it is clear that the impact of the airline crisis is also visible on rail travel and passengers are now having to take quick decisions regarding the availability of trains.
Railway’s announcement on 4 big trains
1. An additional third AC coach has been fitted in Jammu Tawi Rajdhani (12425/26).
2. An additional third AC coach has also been added in Dibrugarh Rajdhani (12423/24). This is the link rake of Jammu capital.
3. An additional chair car coach has been fitted in Chandigarh Shatabdi (12045/46).
4. An additional chair car coach has also been added in Amritsar Shatabdi (12029/30).
What did Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu say on Indigo crisis?
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has taken prompt and proactive measures in view of the ongoing disruption in flight schedules, especially the delays in Indigo Airlines flights. DGCA’s Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) orders have been suspended with immediate effect. This decision has been taken only in the interest of passengers, especially senior citizens, students, patients and all those who depend on timely air travel for essential needs, and with no compromise on aviation safety. Additionally, several operational measures have been implemented so that airline services return to normal as soon as possible and inconvenience to passengers is minimized. Based on immediate implementation of these instructions, we are hopeful that flight schedules will begin to stabilize from tomorrow and services will be fully restored within the next three days.
Refund on hotels and cancellations to stranded passengers
To assist passengers during this period, airlines have been directed to provide regular and accurate updates through advanced online information systems, allowing passengers to know real-time flight status from the comfort of their homes. In case of any flight cancellation, passengers will be given full refund automatically without any request. Airlines will provide hotel facilities to passengers stranded due to long delays.
Special priority is being given to senior citizens and disabled people. They will be provided lounge facilities and all possible assistance so that their journey remains comfortable. Refreshments and essential services will also be provided to all passengers affected by delayed flights. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has set up a 24×7 control room (011-24610843, 011-24693963, 096503-91859) to monitor the situation in real time, ensuring prompt corrective action, effective coordination and prompt resolution.
orders high-level investigation
The Government of India has decided to conduct a high-level investigation into this disruption. This inquiry will investigate the irregularities that occurred at IndiGo, fix accountability wherever necessary, and make necessary recommendations to prevent such disruptions in future, so that passengers do not have to face such difficulties again.
assurance to the nation
The Central Government is fully conscious of the difficulties being faced by air passengers and is in constant touch with all concerned parties including airlines. All necessary steps and regulatory relaxations permitted by DGCA are being implemented immediately to stabilize operations and address public inconvenience. Passenger care, safety and convenience remains the top priority of the Government of India.
