The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Friday issued an order to allow the movement of migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students and other persons, stranded at different places across the country, by special trains to be operated by Ministry of Railways (MoR).
Railways Ministry will issue detailed guidelines for sale of tickets; for social distancing and other safety measures to be observed at train stations, train platforms and within the trains.
“MoR would designate nodal officer(s) for coordinating with State/ UTs for their movement. It would also issue detailed guidelines for sale of tickets; for social distancing and other safety measures to be observed at train stations, train platforms and within the trains,” MHA said in a statement.
As per the guidelines issued by MHA, the Railway ministry will run special ‘Shramik Trains’ to move people stranded at different places due to lockdown. The decision to run the Shramik trains has come on Labour Day.
These special trains will 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 passengers have to be screened by the sending states and only those found asymptomatic would be allowed to travel. Sending State Governments will have to bring these persons in batches that can be accommodated in the train to the designated Railway Station in sanitized 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.
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.
