As people are continuously struggling to reach their home states amidst this COVID-19 pandemic, Indian Railways brings new measures for their safe passage home. According to reports, about 200 special non-ac trains will run from June 1, thus bringing all stranded migrant workers and others home.
The non-ac trains will have second class coaches, and will run everyday. These trains will run along with the Shramik Special trains, and the air-conditioned special trains that are already running. The new trains can be booked by passengers of all categories. You can book tickets for these special passenger trains on the IRCTC website, or even on the app.
However, the railway station ticket booking counters will remain closed, and you cannot purchase any tickets from the counter, including platform tickets. The routes for these trains are yet to be decided, however, it is quite clear that these trains will be running to smaller towns and cities across India. These will be long distance trains.
According to reports, the Indian Railways has asked state governments to help them identify migrants who are walking to reach home. They should be transported to the nearest mainline railway station after registration. According to the railways, they are trying to help migrants board trains from the railway station head on mainline, which is close to the existing location.
Migrant workers are hence asked to remain where they are, and it is upto the railways to help them reach home.
Meanwhile, the special air-conditioned trains are running from Delhi to various cities across the country. These are – Ahmedabad, Agartala, Dibrugarh, Thiruvananthapuram, Patna, Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh), Ranchi , Bhubaneswar, Howrah, Chennai, Jammu Tawi, among others.