Govt announces 6 ‘Shramik Special Trains’ to evacuate stranded migrants, students & others

May 02: On the occasion of Labour Day on 1 May, the Indian Railways has introduced “Shramik Special” trains to move migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students and other persons stranded at different places due to lockdown. The nationwide lockdown declared in the country since 25 March has left many people stranded outside their home states. The railways has already run the first such train with 1,200 passengers from Hyderabad to Jharkhand at 4:50 am on Friday.

The railway ministry cleared six trains for Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Odisha. “On the occasion of Labour Day, the railway ministry has decided to run “Shramik Special” trains to transport migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students,” an official said. The six ‘Shramik Special’ trains will run from — Lingampally to Hatia, Nasik to Lucknow, Aluva to Bhubaneswar, Nasik to Bhopal, Jaipur to Patna and Kota to Hatia.

“These special trains will be run from point to point on the request of both the state governments concerned 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 a smooth operation of these ‘Shramik Specials’,” the national transporter said.

According to the guidelines issued by the railways, the passengers of these trains will have to be screened at the boarding points by the states sending them and only those found asymptomatic of COVID-19 will be allowed to travel. 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.