Amid rising cases of Coronavirus in the country, the number of passengers in various trains from Ranchi Junction is decreasing on a daily basis. The passengers are cancelling their tickets due to the fear of COVID-19 epidemic, which is leading to Indian Railways’ losses. The number of passengers on trains in several parts of the country has reduced significantly.
Passengers are getting their tickets cancelled and the cancellation rate is increasing day by day. Sources said that from Ranchi Junction, there has been drop of nearly 15 to 20 per cent in train cancellation. There has been severe drop in passengers in trains for Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and other places where number of Coronavirus patient has gone up in past few days.
Sources said that on an average there are around 5000 ticket bookings at Ranchi junction which includes around 2000 ticket bookings from railway reservation counter at Ranchi Junction. Sources said that out of these 2000 bookings around 200 to 300 tickets have been cancelled. Sources said that the there is severe drop in train passengers in trains such as Rajdhani Express. In Rajdhani Express the seats availability in all categories has gone up. From Ranchi Junction the train leaves for Delhi on four days in a week. The train is going to originate on March 18, 19, 21 and 22 but as per railway sources there is seats availability in all categories on all these four days.
Sanjeev Poddar a resident of Upper Bazar said, “I was to go to my sister’s daughter weeding in Mumbai, but due to corona virus scare. I have cancelled my trip. Moreover, my sister too has decided to restrict the wedding to small function.”
Apart from trains, there has been a drop in bus passengers too. There is severe drop in passengers in Bihar bound buses. Mukesh, a conductor working at Patna bund buses said, “There is severe drop in passengers in past few weeks. As government had issued advisory asking people to keep away from crowded places and avoid travelling. People are now cancelling their bus bookings.” He also said, “In past few weeks due to corona virus scare there is fifty per cent bookings.”
The corona virus scare has affected air travel too. Fresh bookings and occupancy in domestic flights have dropped by almost 15 per cent in the last few days as customers defer or cancel trips over fears of coronavirus.
