Bhopal: How train, flight passengers will travel in the new normal

BHOPAL: With the announcement of starting trains and domestic airlines, several guidelines have been issued for the travellers. Bhopal airport authorities have even released a video on social media displaying the new rules. However, the railways is yet to issue guidelines for passengers to follow at stations.
Guidelines for travellers at Raja Bhoj airport
Airport director Anil Vikram said a video has been made with an objective to help the flyers understand the changes before boarding a flight.“Everywhere, from chairs to check-in counters, full care is being taken for social distancing. Some chairs have taps and ribbons to keep distance between passengers,” said Vikram.
As per the changes made for the flyers, a spacing of around 2 m will be ensured at the lounge so that passengers stay away from each other. Due to this, passengers have to reach the airport three hours before the flight take-off. All passengers will be required to wear masks. Check-in and security check will be contactless at the airport.
Passengers must follow social distancing when entering the main gate of the airport terminal. For this, marking has been done at a distance of 1.6 metres. This is where the passenger's baggage will be disinfected, traveller will sanitize his hands, after which he/she will have to go through the thermal screening. During this time, the traveller will also have to fill a health declaration form.
From here, the passenger will pick up his luggage and go to the CISF counter at the main gate itself, show the ticket and ID proof in a contactless way. For this, the passenger has to show his valid ID proof and ticket in front of the camera.
After this, the passenger’s luggage will be scanned by a machine by CISF and then by the airline company. From here, the traveller will go to the counter to take his boarding pass. The check-in luggage tag will be given through a machine.
At the security check too, social distancing has to be followed. The passenger will have to show his boarding pass to the CISF jawan, after which the jawan will check him with a metal detector. For this, the CISF has extended the metal detector length by placing an external rod so that the passenger could be examined from a distance.
After completing the security check, the passengers will have to get their hand sanitized and then sit in the waiting area following social distancing.
Similarly, exiting passengers will also have to inform the authority about their health status and travel history at the counter, following social distancing.
Guidelines for travellers at Bhopal station
Bhopal railway division PRO, AS Siddique, said that comprehensive guidelines for passengers will be issued soon. “Thermal screening, social distancing will be there obviously. However, comprehensive guidelines are yet to come,” said Siddique.
As of now, major guidelines issued are of ticket reservations. The entire train will be run with reserve coach. General coaches will also be reserved, in which two sleeper category tickets will be issued. The fare will be normal. Tickets will be booked online through IRCTC website and mobile app. Railway or IRCTC agents will not be able to book tickets with their IDs while reservation counters will start functioning at the stations from Friday.
The advance reservation period will be for a maximum of 30 days, that is, passengers can book tickets up to 30 days in advance. These ticket will be issued according to RAC and waiting ticket rules. Passengers holding waiting list tickets will not be allowed to board the train. No Tatkal or Premium Tatkal booking will be allowed in these trains.
Current booking can be done online. The first chart of these trains will be made four hours before the time of departure of the train and the second chart will be made two hours before, which used to be 30 minutes earlier.
Concession tickets will be issued for four differently-abled and 11 categories of sick passengers. But concession tickets will not be issued in the category of student, senior citizens, art and sports person, journalist, awardee, war widow, medical professional and such others.
Refund policy will be same as before. Catering charges will not be added to any ticket. Prepaid meal booking, e-catering will be closed. No blanket will be provided to any passenger during the journey. This information will be given to the passenger while booking the ticket.