How is Northern Railway Supporting Disruption-Hit Passengers?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Northern Railway has added coaches to several trains for passengers.
- A government inquiry into IndiGo's disruptions is underway.
- Airlines will provide real-time updates and automatic refunds.
- Measures are being taken to swiftly restore flight services.
- A 24×7 control room has been established for monitoring the situation.
New Delhi, Dec 5 (NationPress) In light of the disruptions experienced by IndiGo flights, the Northern Railway announced on Friday that it has increased the number of coaches in at least four trains, including the Jammu Rajdhani Express, to cater to passengers who may opt for train travel.
“Due to the disruption of flight services by IndiGo, Northern Railway has implemented the following measures for passenger convenience: One additional 3A coach in 12425/26 Jammu Tawi Rajdhani Express; one additional 3A coach in 12424/23 Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express (Link rake of JAT Raj); one additional CC coach in Chandigarh Shatabdi 12045/46; and one CC coach in Amritsar Shatabdi 12030/29,
said an official statement from Northern Railway.
Meanwhile, the government has announced a high-level inquiry into the significant IndiGo disruption to assess what went wrong at the airline and determine accountability for the necessary actions.
This investigation will also suggest preventative measures to avoid future disruptions, ensuring that passengers do not endure similar hardships again.
Thousands of passengers faced distress at airports nationwide. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu stated, “We expect that flight schedules will start stabilizing and returning to normal by tomorrow. We anticipate that complete service restoration will be achieved within the next three days.”
To assist passengers during this challenging time, airlines have been directed to provide regular updates via improved online information systems, allowing passengers to track real-time flight statuses from home, according to the minister.
“In case of flight cancellations, airlines will automatically issue full refunds without requiring any requests from passengers. Those stranded due to extended delays will receive hotel accommodation arranged directly by the airlines,” the minister added.
The ministry has implemented immediate and proactive measures to tackle the ongoing disruptions in flight schedules, particularly those involving IndiGo Airlines.
The Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) orders of the DGCA have been suspended effective immediately.
“This decision has been made solely in the interest of passengers, especially senior citizens, students, patients, and others who depend on timely air travel for essential needs, without compromising on air safety,” stated the minister.
Additionally, several operational measures have been mandated to ensure that normal airline services are restored promptly, significantly reducing the inconvenience to travelers, he added.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has also set up a 24×7 control room to monitor the situation in real-time, ensuring swift corrective action, effective coordination, and immediate resolution of issues as they arise.