Lockdown 3.0: Telangana To Run 40 Trains A Day For One Week To Send Migrant Workers Back Home

Hyderabad: In a huge relief for migrant workers stranded in different parts of Telangana, the state government has decided to deploy 40 special trains per day for one week beginning Tuesday to ferry them to their native places in states, including Bihar and West Bengal.

These trains will start from various stations in the city, Warangal, Khammam and Ramagundam among other places, a release from Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's office said late on Monday night, announcing the massive evacuation exercise amid the coronavirus lockdown.

The Railways has announced the operation of "Shramik Special" trains to ferry the migrant workers.

Rao held a review meeting with senior officials on the hardships being faced by the labourers, stranded in different parts of the state.

"The CM had taken a decision to run special trains for the migrant workers to reach their destination. The CM spoke to SC Railway General manager Sri Gajanan Mallya and requested him to arrange for 40 special trains from Tuesday," the release said.

State Nodal officer Sandeep Kumar Sultania and Additional DG of police Jitender have been appointed as special officers to oversee the return of the stranded workers, the release said.

Many workers have already registered their names to go to their native places by the special trains.

The Chief Minister appealed them not to be distressed as his government was making necessary arrangements.

In a major relief for stranded migrants of Odisha, three ‘Shramik Special’ trains had earlier ferried them from Gujarat and Kerala.

While two trains left Surat for Berhampur, one train departed from Ernakulam in Kerala. Special arrangements were put in place at Surat railway station for smooth boarding of train by the migrants. Barricades were erected to ensure that the labourers board the trains in queue and maintain social distancing.

Similarly, the local administration in Ernakulam also conducted registration of all the workers before sending them back to home amid the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown.

(PTI)