West Bengal govt to run 105 additional trains to bring stranded migrants back home

The West Bengal government will run 105 additional special trains to bring back migrants who are stranded in other parts of the country. 

State chief minister Mamata Banerjee took to Twitter to make the announcement.

“Towards our commitment to helping all our people stuck in different parts of the country and who want to return back to Bengal, I am pleased to announce that we have arranged 105 additional special trains. Over the coming days, these special trains will embark from different states for various destinations across Bengal bringing our people back home," Banerjee said in a tweet.

She also shared a link for additional information on the schedules. 

"Over the coming days, these special trains will embark from different states for various destinations across Bengal bringing our people back home. The exact details of each of these trains will be available at: https://wb.gov.in/pdf/Train_Schedule.pdf," she said.

Towards our commitment to helping all our people stuck in different parts of the country and who want to return back to Bengal, I am pleased to announce that we have arranged 105 additional special trains. (1/2)

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) May 14, 2020

The development comes a day after Railway Minister Piyush Goyal accused the West Bengal government of failure to bring back its migrants who want to return to their homes by not allowing trains in the state.

He said that despite Union Home Minister Amit Shah's letter to CM Banerjee, rail transport has not picked up in the state.

"These are your people, why are you not allowing them to return? Please allow them to come, meet their families and if they wish to go back, allow them I'm confident that the economy will pick up, they will find jobs. Please don't politicize the issue and work unitedly," Goyal said.

The Centre and the West Bengal government have been at the opposing ends regarding the coronavirus outbreak in the country.