Railways operated 3,000 Shramik special trains to ferry migrants, says Piyush Goyal

Union Railways Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday said that Indian Railways has successfully operated over 3,000 Shramik special trains to ferry migrant labourers stranded in several parts of  nation to ir home states.

“I’m very gl to say that Railways has efficiently operated greater than 3,000 Shramik particular trains and transported migrant employees from completely different components of nation to ir house states,” Goyal tweeted in Hindi.

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Railways Minister urged states to cooperate along with his Ministry to help workers. “I as soon as once more enchantment to all of states to cooperate with Railways and assist ir labourer brors,” he stated.

On Sunday,  Ministry of Railways stated that almost 60 per cent of Shramik special trains originated from Gujarat, Maharashtra and Punjab and are majorly destined for Uttar Presh and Bihar. People from UP and Bihar constitute 80 per cent of passengers.

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45 lakh migrants ferried since March 25

As India's COVID-19 cases rise beyond 1.25 lakh, Railway Board chairman Vid Kumar Yav, on Saturday, revealed that 45 lakh people h travelled via trains since March 25 when PM Modi anunced nation-wide lockdown. He ded that in coming 10 days, Railways has scheduled 2600 trains via which 36 lakh people will travel.

Shramik Specials h been operated after a directive by Ministry of Home Affairs allowed interstate movement of migrants, pilgrims, vacationers, college students and different individuals stranded in different states amid coronavirus-induced lockdown. 85 per cent of travel expense is borne by Centre while 15 per cent is shelled by states as rent. States h reimbursed expenses of travelling of people in some instances.

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Centre has issued a new order empowering Ministry of Railways and Home Ministry to decide on movement of Shramik trains. According to revised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), consent of receiving states is longer necessary. This move was reportedly necessitated after several states blamed each or for t accepting Shramik train requests.

Currently, India is its fourth phase of lockdown till May 31 as COVID-19 cases stand at 1,38,845 with 57,721 recoveries and 4,021 fatalities.

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