Consider refund of fare for advance booking to curb travel: Centre to states

To restrict travel by people through public transport, the Centre on Wednesday asked states to consider refund of fare to passengers for advance bookings done by them.

The states and UTs have been requested to minimise transport numbers among the people, and also if it is not unavoidable, refund of fare may be considered against advance bookings, the Road Transport and Highways Ministry said in a release.

"Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has urged all the States and Union Territories to take necessary steps for containing novel coronavirus - COVID 19 in the means of public transport," the release said.

In a letter to the Principal Secretaries and Secretaries in charge of Transport, and Transport Commissioners of all States/UTs, the Union ministry has highlighted the importance of social distancing for controlling this disease, it added.

Further, the States/UTs have been requested to make arrangements for sending SMSs to the passengers for making them aware of these steps.