Point-to-point train services to evacuate migrants, others

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Friday amended its earlier order and allowed special trains to evacuate stranded migrants, students, pilgrims and tourists, following pressure from Opposition parties and state governments. The home ministry’s amended order came after late night discussions with the railways and state governments late on Thursday night, officials said.

Even before the order was issued, the railway ministry cleared a special train from Telangana to Jharkhand that will carry 1,200 migrants. Later, the railway ministry cleared six trains for Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Odisha. “On the occasion of Labour Day, the railway ministry has decided to run “Shramik Special” trains to transport migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students,” an official said.

“The railways will designate nodal officer for coordinating with state and UTs for their movement. It will issue detailed guidelines for sale of tickets, and for social distancing and other safety measures to be observed at train stations, train platforms and within the trains,” the home ministry’s modified guidelines said.


West Bengal, Maharashtra, Rajasthan Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh had demanded special trains, apart from buses, to transport the migrants. The demand was support by main Opposition parties led by the Congress. As per standard operating procedures, the trains will operate from one point to another point on the request of sender and receiver states. Passengers will be screened by sender states and only asymptomatic persons will be allowed to travel. “They will be ferried in limited groups to railway station using buses from shelter camps. Social-distancing norms have to be followed and all passengers will have to use face covers, or masks,” a home ministry official said.

The workers, students and other will be quarantined for 14 days on arrival and will be under watch of local health authorities.