New Delhi (NVI): In order to accommodate more passengers in Shramik special trains, the Ministry of Railways in its revised guidelines has said that around 1700 passengers will be allowed to travel in these trains now.
The Shramik trains, being operated to ferry migrants stuck across the country amid Covid-19 lockdown, have been carrying 1200 passengers.
As per the revised guidelines, the capacity of these trains should be equal to the number of sleeper berths. The Ministry said that the middle berth will also be allowed to use by the passengers now.
Apart from that, the railway zones have also been asked to provide three stoppages in the destination state other than the final stop, at the request of the state governments.
Indian Railways had decided to operate “Shramik Special” trains after the Ministry of Home Affairs issued an order regarding the movement of migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students and other persons stranded at different places by special trains.
Yesterday, the Union Rail Minister Piyush Goyal said that Railways is fully geared up to run 300 Shramik special trains for migrants daily while appealing to States to give permission to evacuate stranded migrants.
In another big announcement, Railways yesterday said that it will gradually restart passenger train services from May 12, initially with 15 pairs of trains and booking for reservation in these trains will start at 4 pm today.
A total of 468 “Shramik Special” trains have been operationalised from various states across the country, in which 363 trains had reached its destination and 105 trains are in transit, the Rail Ministry said in a statement today.
These 363 trains were terminated in various states like Andhra Pradesh (1 Train), Bihar (100 Trains), Himachal Pradesh (1 Train), Jharkhand (22 Trains), Madhya Pradesh (30 Trains), Maharashtra (3 Trains), Odisha (25 Trains), Rajasthan(4 Trains), Telangana(2 Trains), Uttar Pradesh (172 Trains), West Bengal(2 Trains), Tamil Nadu (1 Train).
These trains have ferried migrants to cities like Tiruchchirappalli, Titlagarh, Barauni, Khandwa, Jagannathpur, Khurda Road, Prayagraj, Chhapra, Balia, Gaya, Purnia, Varanasi, Darbhanga, Gorakhpur, Lucknow, Jaunpur, Hatia, Basti, Katihar, Danapur, Muzzaffarpur, Saharsa etc, the Ministry said.
Proper screening of passengers is ensured before boarding the train. During the journey, passengers are given free meals and water.
