60,000 stranded migrant labourers ferried in 50 Sharmik special trains from Punjab
Ferozepur, May 11, 2020: During the lockdown period, the railways have today operated its 50th Shramik Express Training from Ferozepur rail division, ferrying around 60,000 stranded migrant workers, on-demand from the state government. In a single day, as many as ten trains have moved – 5 from Ludhiana, 4 from Jalandhar and one from Amritsar.
Divulging with details, DRM, Ferozepur Rajesh Aggarwal informed that it is a matter of proud for the railways that in total 50 trains have been operated – 21 from Jalandhar, 25 from Ludhiana and 4 from Amritsar – including ten trains today, for Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand, so that the migrant workers could reach their destinations during the lockdown period. Earlier 40 trains have moved between March 5 and 10.
The 50th train will be moving from Jalandhar for Faizabad ferrying the migrant workers. The railways have extended 85 per cent and the state governments are making all these payments without charging anything from the migrant workers, he added.
He said, only the registered passengers have been allowed to board these trains, identified by the state government and after proper medical fitness as per the instruction on Covid-19 guidelines.
DRM said, the dedicated staff of railways – by technical and non-technical officials – have made all this possible who deserve all outstanding appreciation for performing their duties during the threat of coronavirus by taking all precautionary measures adding that Ferozepur rail division is committed to serving the county in the challenging time.