Trains and flights unlikely to resume after lockdown ends
Railways and Airlines being mass services, restarting them after lockdown will need preparedness. GoM after meeting Rajnath Singh indicated that railways and flights might not resume after May 3
If you are planning to travel once the lockdown ends, then this news might disappoint you
Indians might have to wait longer after the lockdown to reach their desired destinations
Rail and air travel are unlikely to resume after lockdown 2.0 ends on May 3
Social distancing concerns might continue much longer for the travel industry
All the airlines have been told not to take bookings after May 3, sources said.
On Saturday, a Group of Ministers attended a meeting at Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's residence
After the meeting these ministers expressed concern over resuming trains and flights
The government also clarified that no decision has been taken to allow domestic or international flights
The clarification came within hours after Air India posted on its website regarding bookings
Air India said that it is taking bookings for travel from May 4 on some domestic routes and from June 1 for international routes.
"The Ministry of Civil Aviation clarifies that so far no decision has been taken to open any operations.
Airlines are advised to wait until a decision is taken by the Government," Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri tweeted.
As the Covid-19 cases reach more than 15,000, with more than 500 fatalities, restart for travel industry will be a challenge
Air traffic and passenger trains were suspended last month to curb the spread of COVID-19
The aviation sector has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.
Airlines have either slashed salaries or asked employees to go on a sabbatical without pay.
Lakhs of indirect workers of railways and airlines also face the wrath of lockdown
The central government will review the reports from health ministry regarding Covid-19 numbers before it decides to open rail and air travel
Before starting the rail and air services, government will have to prepare for infection free travel
The railways and airlines being mass services might be a threat to contain the virus spread
So lockdown may end but your wait to travel by trains and flights might not end with the lockdown
Follow us on: Facebook, Twitter, Google News, Instagram
Join our official telegram channel (@nationalherald) and stay updated with the latest headlines