MHA Order: Railways To Operate Special Trains For Those Stranded In Other States

New Delhi: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), government of India, on Friday issued an order, as an addition to the consolidated revised guidelines, whereby people stranded in other states, due to the coronavirus-induced nationwide lockdown, can move to their native states and Union Territories by trains.

Union Home secretary Ajay Bhalla has written to chief secretaries of all states/UTs, informing them of the addition of Sub-clause (v) under Clause 17 on Movement of persons by trains. It reads as follows:

Movement of migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students and other persons, stranded at different places, is also allowed by special trains to be operated by Ministry of Railways (MoR) who will designate nodal officer(s) for coordinating with states/UTs for their movement. MOR 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.

MHA had earlier said those stranded in other states and willing to return home can do so by road under certain conditions.

The first special train carrying migrant workers left Limgampally in Telangana for Hatia in Jharkhand at 5 am on Friday, followed by another one carrying 1,200 Odia workers which left for Bhubaneswar from Kerala in the evening.