South Western Railway (SWR) today operated four Shramik Specials trains.
Two trains left Chikbanawar (In Bengaluru) to Lucknow (in Uttar Pradesh). First train departed at 12.00 hrs with 1200 passengers. The second train started at 18.10 hrs with 1198 passengers.
Another Shramik Special started from Malur (In Bengaluru Division) to Darbhanga (in Bihar) with 1198 passengers at 17.40 hrs.
One Shramik Special to Hatia (Jarkhand)left at 00.45 hrs of 09.05.2020 with 1200 passengers. SWR has Run fifteen Shramik Specials based on demand of State Govt for citizens to return to their home towns after the Lockdown due to Covid-19 Pandemic.
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) have granted permission for movement of the stranded citizens including migrants labourers, workers, students, tourists to return to their native towns. As per the list provided by State Government, South Western Railway today ferried approximately 3,600 passengers to their destinations at UP and Bihar.
Care was taken to ensure social distancing, wearing of masks and sanitizing of hands when boarding and inside the trains before departure from Chikbanawar and Malur Station.
Trains departed the Stations only after all the passengers were medically examined by Government of Karnataka and issued medical certificate. Thermal screening was again done by Railway Medical Teams at the stations.
None of the passengers was detected with high temperature.
Local NGOs extended support to provide lunch packets, biscuits, water bottles, fruits etc. En-route meals are being provided by State Government.
Hot meal, biscuits, water bottle, buttermilk were provided to passengers at Chikbanavar. Food packe containing 8 Chaptis, pickles, 2 biscuit packets, 2 water bottles and buttermilk were provided at Malur.
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) team is escorting the trains. Details of passengers, coach-wise with address and mobile Nos. have been obtained. Details have been digitalized and stored for contact tracing in future, if required.
State Government had arranged to bring these passengers to the stations through BMTC Buses as per the protocol. SWR is transporting passengers to their destination only when there is a demand from the State
Government with proper protocol and the receiving State Government is ready to accept them. These special trains are being run from point to point with no stoppages en-route.
In this connection, Railways reiterate that all running of Passenger trains stand cancelled till further advise. The Shramik Specials are being run from point to point only on the request of the State Government. Anyone who has to travel should contact the State Govt. only and No tickets are being issued at Railway Stations over SWR.
