Over 10 lakh migrants ferried home in 800 'Shramik Special' trains: Railways

The Indian Railways has so far run 800 “Shramik Special” trains, carrying more than 10 lakh migrant workers to their respective homes, the government said on Thursday. 

Indian Railways had decided to operate “Shramik Special” trains after the Ministry of Home Affairs allowed movement of migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students and other persons stranded at different places by special trains.

As on May 14, 2020, a total of 800 “Shramik Special” trains have been operationalised from various states across the country, the Ministry of Railways said.  

More than 10 lakh passengers have reached their home state, it added. 

Trains being run by Railways only after concurrence is given both by the state which is sending the passengers and the State which is receiving them, the Railways said. 

These 800 trains were terminated in various states like Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Mizoram, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal.

Proper screening of passengers is ensured before boarding the train while passengers are given free meals and water during the journey, the Railways said.