The Ministry of Home Affairs on Friday announced that movement of migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students and other persons, stranded at different places, will be allowed to travel to their home states through the Special Trains operated by the Indian Railways.
The Railway Ministry will issue detailed guidelines for sale of tickets; for social distancing and other safety measures to be observed at train stations, train platforms and within the trains.
Movement of migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students & other persons, stranded at different places, is also allowed by #SpecialTrains to be operated by @RailMinIndia. MoR to designate nodal officer(s) for coordinating with States/ UTs for their movement#lockdown #Covid_19 pic.twitter.com/UvEvDH1Ibj
— Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs (@PIBHomeAffairs) May 1, 2020
Railways start Shramik Special Trains
As per the guideline issued by Ministry of Home Affairs, it has been decided to run ”Shramik Special” trains from ”Labour Day” today, to move migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students and other persons stranded at different places due to lock down.
These special trains will be run from point to point on the request of both the concerned State Governments as per the standard protocols for sending and receiving such stranded persons. The Railways and State Governments shall appoint senior officials as Nodal Officers for coordination and smooth operation of these ”Shramik Specials”.
The passengers have to be screened by the sending states and only those found asymptomatic would be allowed to travel. Sending State Governments will have to bring these persons in batches that can be accommodated in the train to the designated Railway Station in sanitized buses following social distancing norms and other precautions. It will be mandatory for every passenger to wear face cover. Meals and drinking water would be provided to the passengers by the sending states at the originating station.
The Railways will endeavour to ensure social distancing norms and hygiene with the cooperation of passengers. On longer routes, the Railways will provide a meal enroute during the journey.
On arrival at the destination, passengers will be received by the State Government, who would make all arrangements for their screening, quarantine if necessary and further travel from the Railway Station.
At this point of time of crisis faced by the nation, all officers and staff of the Indian Railways are committed to serve our fellow Indians and seeks everyone’s support and cooperation.
First special train leaves Telangana
MHA allowed interstate movement of migrant labourers stranded due to lockdown, the Indian Railways on Friday ran a special train to ferry 1,200 stranded migrants from Lingampally in Telangana to Hatia in Jharkhand, a first since the lockdown began.
Another special train from Kerala carrying 1,200 migrant workers to Bhubaneswar in Odisha will leave from the Aluva railway station on Friday evening, state Minister V S Sunil Kumar said.
The special train that earlier left from Telangana at 4.50 am Friday carried 1,200 stranded migrant workers, said RPF DG Arun Kumar said.
It’s the only train to be deployed so far, he added.
The train usually seats 72 people in a compartment. However, keeping in mind the social distancing norms, it accomodated only 54 people in each compartment.