3.11 lakh migrants moved in 250 Shramik special trains from Punjab
250th train moved from Ludhiana to Gonda
Ferozepur, May 23, 2020: The Railways on Saturday, moved 250th Shramik special train from Ludhiana to Gonda in Uttar Pradesh taking the migrants to their home districts, as per their consent, as per the arrangements of the Punjab government to shift in the wake of lockdown due to Coronavirus threat and shutting down of all units making surplus the skilled and semi-skilled workers.
DRM Rajesh Aggarwal informed that today 250th train has moved from Ludhiana to Gondia in Uttar Pradesh and so far 3.11 lakh migrant workers have gone back to their home districts without incurring any expenditure as the entire expenses have been borne by the state governments and subsidy of 85 percent extended by the railways.
Giving details of the train moved, DRM said, as on date, 250 special trains have moved 172 trains to AP, 51 to WB, 10 to MP, 6 ach to Jharkhand and Chhatisgarh and one each to AP, Wb, Maharsthra, Keral and Uttrakhand adding that 136 trains from Ludhiana, 66 Jalandhar, 26 Amritsar, 11 Ferozepour Cantt, 10 from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and one from Gurdaspur has moved. RPF jawans had accompanied each train up to the destination to ensure the safety of the passengers.
In Punjab, the government has made special arrangements for shifting of migrant workers from to their home states through special trains by bearing all the cost on this account. Apart from this, the migrant workers were provided food packets, water bottles, face masks before boarding the train and putting them wiser about maintaining social distancing and adopting other medical protocols in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, said DC.
DRM said, more such special trains have been planned in the coming time to send the migrant workers to different states, as per the registration on the portal and demand of the state governments.
Meanwhile, the migrant workers conveyed thanks to the Punjab government for making arrangements for their safe journey to home towns, free of cost as it would not have been possible without their cooperation.