MHA announces special trains for movement of stranded people
A special train carrying 1200 migrant workers to leave from Kerala to Odisha on Friday evening
New Delhi: The Government of India on Friday allowed movement of stranded labourers, students and tourist via rail. The Railway Board in coordination with states will make necessary arrangements for this.
“MHA has today allowed movement of stranded students, migrant workers, tourists, pilgrims, etc. via rail as well. States and Railway Board will make necessary arrangements” said Punya Salila Srivastava, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs at the daily press briefing.
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
The Railways has decided to run as many as 6 special trains from today. The special trains are Lingampalli to Hatia, Aluva to Bhubaneswar, Nasik to Lucknow, Nasik to Bhopal, Jaipur to Patna and Kota to Hatia.
Earlier MHA has permitted movement of the stranded people only through buses. But several states including Kerala, Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Bihar, Jharkhand, Punjab have demanded the centre for running special trains for the purpose.
The Indian Railways has decided to operate 6 special trains from today. The special trains are Lingampalli to Hatia, Aluva to Bhubaneswar, Nasik to Lucknow, Nasik to Bhopal, Jaipur to Patna and Kota to Hatia.
The MHA on Wednesday had allowed inter-state movement of the stranded people to their home states. However, inter-state movements were allowed only on buses as there was no clear roadmap on restart train and airline services.
The Indian Railways operated its first special train for migrant workers on Friday as a pilot project. The 24-coach train, which started its journey at 5 am today to Hatia in Jharkhand from Telangana’s Lingampally is carrying about 1200 migrant workers.
According to reports, a special train carrying about 1200 migrant workers will leave for Odisha this evening. The special train bound for Bhubaneswar in Odisha is scheduled to leave the Aluva Railway station Ernakulam district at 6 pm.
