The first Shramik special train carrying 985 passengers left from Chikkabanavara (Bengaluru) to Udhampur in Union Territory of J & K (Karnataka) at 12.30 pm. This train is mostly students and few families who were held up in Karnataka due to the Lockdown due to Covid-19. The students and families were happy to be returning back to their hometown after relaxation of Lockdown in Karnataka.
The second train from Malur to Bankura in West Bengal with 1200 passengers and 47 children left at 14.10 hrs. These passengers were mostly migrant workers with their families and children returning to their hometowns and happy that Government of India, Railways and State Government were running special trains to return to their hometowns.
The third Shramik special carrying 1608 passengers left from Chikkbanawar (Bengaluru) to Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh) left at 16.06 hrs. This was the first train to Madhya Pradesh and passengers were happy that all formalities like transportation to station by BMTC buses and medical checkup etc were conducted smoothly.
The fourth Shramik special from Malur to Danapur in Bihar left with 1200 passengers for Danapur at 16.55 hrs.
The fifth Shramik special from Chikkabanwar to Gorakpur in Uttar Pradesh with 1200 passengers departed Chikbanawar at 17.55 hrs
The Sixth Shramik Special departed for Agarthala in Tripura from Chikkbanawar at 19.55 hrs with 1160 passengers belonging to northeastern region.
SWR has Run twenty one Shramik Specials so far based on demand of State Govt for citizens to return to their home towns after the Lockdown due to Covid-19 Pandemic. These Passengers were registered with and communicated by State Govt.
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has 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 of Karnataka, South Western Railway is arranging special trains.
State Government is arranging 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 of Karnataka with proper protocol and the receiving State Government is ready to receive them. These special trains are being run from point to point with no stoppages en-route.
The passengers are being provided with food packet consisting of Rice/ 8 chapatti, pickle, 2 water bottles of one litre capacity each cookies and buttermilk for their journey en-route. Govt of Karnataka have brought the passengers to the station through BMTC buses after all passengers were examined and medical certificate issued. The passengers were very happy to be returning back to their hometowns. They thanked the Railways and State Govt for arranging their return journey. SWR is transporting passengers to their destinations only when there is demand from the state government with proper protocol and receiving state Govt is ready to accept them.
Care was taken to ensure social distancing, wearing of masks and sanitizing of hands when boarding and inside the trains before departure from Chikkbanavara and Malur Station.
Special Trains are departing the Stations only after all the passengers are 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.
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.
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.
