No passenger trains during 'janata curfew' on Sunday

No passenger train will originate from any railway station in the country from midnight to 10 pm on Sunday in view of the "Janta curfew" announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sources said on Friday.

The sources also said that mail and express trains will also stop services from 4 am on Sunday.

All suburban train services to be reduced to a bare minimum as well.

As of now, the Indian Railways has cancelled 245 trains in order to restrict unnecessary travel due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Pitching for "social distancing", Modi on Thursday called for a 'Janta curfew' from 7 am to 9 pm on March 22, saying no citizen, barring those in essential services, should get out of their houses, and asserted that it will be a litmus test to show India's readiness to take on the coronavirus challenge.

This experience will serve the nation well, he added.

"This Sunday, that is on March 22, all citizens must follow this curfew from 7 am until 9 pm. During this curfew, we shall neither leave our homes, nor get onto the streets and refrain from roaming about in our societies or areas. Only those associated with emergency and essential services may leave their homes," he said.

Furthermore, the Indian Railway Catering and Toursim Corporation has ordered the closure of all onboard catering services in mail or express trains from March 22 until further notice in view of the coronavirus outbreak, according to an order from the railway subsidiary on Friday.

The IRCTC has also decided to close all food plazas, refreshment rooms, Jan Aahars and cell kitchens until further notice.

"Food plazas, refreshment rooms, Jan Aahars and cell kitchens should be closed until further advice.

"The static units supplying meals to prepaid trains which are in operation may continue to operate. The onboard catering services in mail express trains and TSV trains should be closed until further advice," the order stated.

It also said that if there is a demand of onboard services then only propriety article depot items, tea and coffee may be allowed to be sold in trains.

"Such operation should be conducted using minimum number of staff. The licensee should be requested to take care of their catering staff on humanitarian grounds during this period of closure.

"These instructions shall come into force from March 22. For the purpose of license fee this period will be covered under force majeure. If there is a demand, licence is permitted to sell PAD items, tea and coffee," the order stated.