5 Trains from (CCT)KAKINADA TOWN to (QLN)KOLLAM JN

Over 8 lakh passengers benefit from liberalized refund rules

In view of nation-wide lockdown, all passenger train operations have been suspended since 22^ndMarch, 2020.  The lockdown was extended in phases and currently lockdown 5.0 is in force till 30^th June, 2020.   Indian Railways announced liberalized refund rules for the benefit of passengers booked through PRS (Passenger Reservation System) counters.  For e-tickets, automated refunds are being facilitated by IRCTC.  Presently, passengers who have booked tickets through PRS counters for journeys falling during  22^th March, 2020 to 12^thAugust, 2020 are eligible for refunds upto 6 months from the date of journey.

 Southern Railway arranged for staggered disbursal of refunds at PRS counters in major railway stations across the zone.  In the state of Kerala, PRS counters at major locations in Palakkad and Thiruvananthapuram Divisions were opened for refunds from 22^nd of May, 2020. PRS counters at various important locations including those at Thiruvananthapuram Central, Thrissur, Ernakulam ,Kollam, Kozhikkode, Mangalore Junction and  Palakkad Junction railway stations started functioning for disbursal of refunds.

In view of widespread pandemic, in pursuance of Railway Board’s instructions, PRS counters in Tamil Nadu were opened for refunds from 1^st of June, 2020 in a staggered manner.  PRS counters at Dr MGR Chennai Central, Chennai Egmore, Tiruchchirappalli Jn, Tanjavur, Kumbakonam, Salem ,Karur, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tirunelveli,Dindigul and many other important locations started functioning for disbursal of refunds. 

Southern Railway has arranged a refund of Rs.44.5 crores o­n ticket cancellations at PRS counters during the period from 22^nd May, 2020 to 28^thJune, 2020.  A total of 8 lakh passengers have cancelled their tickets benefiting from the liberalized refund rules.

In Chennai Division, Rs.12.83 crores has been disbursed by way of refunds.   In Madurai Division, refund to the tune of Rs.4.39 crores is disbursed.  Rs.6.62 crores and Rs.4.20 crores were disbursed respectively in Salem and Tiruchchirappalli Divisions.  In Thiruvananthapuram Division, amount to the tune of 11.2 crores and in Palakkad Division, Rs.5.25 crores were disbursed  as refund.

In view of the intense Lockdown in Chennai area as announced by the State Government from 19th June to 30th June 2020, all the PRS  Locations falling under the Lockdown area in Chennai and certain parts of Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur District are being kept closed from 19th June to 30th June 2020.  Similarly, In view of the complete lockdown imposed from 23^rd to 30^th June 2020, PRS counters in Madurai lockdown areas are kept closed. 

1)In pursuance of Railway Board’s instructions, Southern Railway is arranging full refund to ticket fares for trains cancelled after 22/03/2020 o­n account of COVID-19

2)The refund of ticket fares are being granted o­n line at www.irctc.co.in for all tickets o­n the website.

3)Passengers may note that for counter tickets, 100% refund will be made available for all the cancelled trains (After 22/03/2020) upto 180 days from the date of journey.  Hence, there is no urgency to come to the counters.

4)In view of the current situation of the COVID-19 pandemic in Tamil Nadu, the refund for stations in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry will be disbursed slightly later in a staggered manner.  This is in order to ensure that social distancing norms are not violated by queues at various stations for disbursal of the refunds.  The dates for starting refunds at Stations in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry will be intimated shortly

5)The following procedure will be followed for tickers booked at Counters in Kerala and Karnataka

The refunds will be made available in a staggered manner a shown below so as to minimize the queues at the counters and to ensure social distancing for the protection of our customers.

Refunds will be available in counters in various divisions as follows:

            I.KERALA:

1)Trivandrum Division:

Trivandrum Central, Kollam Jn, Kayankulam, Chengannur, Tiruvalla, Kottayam, Alleppey, Ernakulam Jn, Ernakulam Town, Aluva, Thrisur

2)Palghat Division:

Calicut, Palghat

II)KARNATAKA

Mangalore Junction

6)The staggered disbursal of refunds will be carried out at all the above counters in the following manner:

7)All COVID-19 precautions should be strictly enforced at the counters. Social distancing norms should be ensured in queues and between queues.  No persons will be allowed at the PRS Counters without wearing the masks. The staff are instructed to wear gloves and masks and frequent use of sanitizers will be resorted to while handling cash. The counters will also be sanitized frequently

8)Our esteemed passengers are requested to follow the above precautions keeping in mind that there is time available upto 6 months from the date of travel for collecting the full refunds.