Indian Railways Receives Request For 63 Shramik Special Trains From Seven States

Despite fall in the demand for Shramik Special trains, the Indian Railways on Friday (12 June) said that it has received a request for 63 more trains from various states of which 32 are from Kerala.

A Railway ministry spokesperson said that railways is committed to continue providing comfortable and safe movement of migrants through Shramik trains as required by the states.

"As of now total 63 more Shramik Special trains requisitioned by various states after V K Yadav, Chairman Railway Board's letter to the states," the spokesperson said.

He said, seven states -- Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Gujarat and Jammu and Kashmir have requested for 63 Shramik trains.

"Out of 63 Shramik Special trains, Kerala has demanded for 32 trains, 10 by Tamil Nadu, nine by Jammu and Kashmir, six by Karnataka, three by Andhra Pradesh, 1 train by Gujarat and two by West Bengal", the official said, adding that Uttar Pradesh government is yet to give their requirement.

"Indian Railways has informed the State governments that it shall continue to provide Shramik Special Train within 24 hours after the demand is received from the States," the Ministry of Railways said in a statement.

The ministry has requested state governments to indicate their requirements about Shramik Special Trains and see that projected demand for movement of residual persons by rail mode is well chalked out and determined, it added.

The Railways has operated over 4,277 Shramik Special trains since 1 May to transport approximately 60 lakh persons including migrant workers, students, pilgrims and tourists to their destination states.

Besides the Shramik Special trains, the national transporter has also started the services of 15 pairs of special air-conditioned trains from 12 May and 200 time tabled trains from 1 June.

(With inputs from IANS)