Domestic air travel suspended in India

New Delhi : No domestic commercial passenger flight would be allowed to operate in the country from March 25 onward, the Union Civil Aviation Ministry said in a statement on Monday in order to restrict travel amid the coronavirus pandemic.

India has already banned international flights for a week from Sunday. "The operations of domestic schedule commercial airlines shall cease with effect from the midnight that is 23.59 hours IST (Indian Standard Time) on March 24, 2020," a ministry spokesperson said.

"Airlines have to plan operations so as to land at their destinations before 23.59 hours on March 24, 2020," the spokesperson added. However, the spokesperson clarified that the restrictions would not apply to cargo flights.

Earlier during the day, aviation regulator DGCA had clarified on Twitter that all cargo flights -- domestic and international -- can operate as usual.

Meanwhile, Railway stations across the country wore a deserted look today as the Indian Railways has cancelled all passenger train operations till March 31 in view of coronavirus.

The Puratchi Thalaivar Dr M.G. Ramachandran Central Railway Station in Chennai and Anand Vihar Terminal in Delhi were deserted as there were no passenger train operations.

Nagpur Railway Station in Maharashtra and Khardaha railway station in West Bengal also wore a deserted look on Monday.

To ensure the essential supplies in various parts of the country, the movement of goods trains will continue.

The Indian Railways on Sunday stated that the Zonal Railways have been advised to ensure strict adherence to the instructions.