New Delhi (NVI): Railways is fully geared up to run 300 Shramik special trains for migrants daily, Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said today while appealing to States to give permission to evacuate stranded migrants.
“As per the directions of Hon’ble PM @NarendraModi ji, Railways is fully geared up to run 300 Shramik Special trains everyday at short notice since the last six days,” Goyal tweeted.
“I appeal to all the States to give permission to evacuate and bring back their stranded migrants so that we can get all of them back to their homes in the next 3-4 days itself,” he said in another tweet.
According to the Ministry of Railways, 366 “Shramik Special” trains have been operated till May 10 (1500 hrs) across the country.
“As on 10th May 2020, a total of 366 ‘Shramik Special’ trains have been operationalized from various states across the country, in which 287 trains had reached its destination and 79 trains are in transit,” the Rail Ministry said in a statement.
These 287 trains were terminated in various states like Andhra Pradesh (1 Train), Bihar (87 Trains), Himachal Pradesh (1 Train), Jharkhand (16 Trains), Madhya Pradesh (24 Trains), Maharashtra (3 Trains), Odisha (20 Trains), Rajasthan(4 Trains), Telangana(2 Trains), Uttar Pradesh (127 Trains), West Bengal(2 Trains), the Ministry said.
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, it said.
The Ministry said that in these Shramik Special Trains, maximum around 1200 passengers can travel observing social distancing. Proper screening of passengers is ensured before boarding the train. During the journey, passengers are given free meals and water.
The Railways has decided to operate these trains after a Ministry of Home Affairs order regarding the movement of migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students and other persons stranded at different places by special trains.
Meanwhile, at 2 pm tomorrow, a train carrying 1,188 passengers will leave from Chandigarh to Kishanganj in Bihar. It will also carry passengers to Araria in Bihar.
