Two days after the Centre allowed migrant labourers, students, pilgrims and tourists who do not have COVID-19 symptoms to return to their home states, the home ministry on Friday notified that special trains will be run to transport such individuals amid the nationwide lockdown.
"Movement of migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students and other persons, stranded at different places, is also allowed by special trains to be operated by the Ministry of Railways," the home ministry stated. The railways will appoint special nodal officers to coordinate with states and Union Territories for the movement of these “Shramik Specials”. The railways will issue a detailed guideline for sale of tickets and other safety measures, including social distancing.
Ministry of Home Affairs allows the movement of migrant workers, tourists, students and other persons stranded at different places, by special trains. pic.twitter.com/cYFRCvTBLj
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The 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 ministry said.
"States and the Railway Board will make the necessary arrangements for the same," said Punya Salila Srivastava, Joint Secretary in the MHA, addressing a press conference. Underlining that some problems are cropping up in the movement of trucks and load carriers, Srivastava said the MHA has again written to the states, reiterating that no separate pass is needed for trucks and load carriers, including the empty vehicles.
Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said the movement is being facilitated by exercising the powers conferred under the Disaster Management Act. The MoR will designate nodal officers for coordinating with the states and Union territories for the “Shramik specials”, he added.
"The passengers have to be screened by the sending states and only those found asymptomatic would be allowed to travel," a senior Railway official said while adding that sending state governments will have to bring these persons in batches that can be accommodated in the train to the designated railway station in sanitised 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,"Rajesh Dutt Bajpai, Executive Director, Indian Railways said.
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.
(With inputs from Pradip Sagar)
