Amid ups and downs in COVID-related restrictions on public transport and train travel, railways have given ticket refunds to the tune of Rs 300 crore in the four months of this year in Mumbai division alone.

“Many seemed to have booked tickets thinking COVID numbers would come down by April-May, but given the second wave and more lockdowns, there have been many cancellations and ticket refund requests have been piling up. In a number of cases, trains have been cancelled due to poor occupancy and curbs in states,” a senior official said. As per the latest statistics, Central Railway’s Mumbai division has given ticket refunds worth Rs 212 crore from January 1 to April 25.