To ensure that citizens waiting to return to their home towns after relaxation of Lockdown in Karnataka , SWR on Tuesday operated 7 more Shramik Special trains, one from Mysuru and the rest from Bengaluru area. SWR has so far run 34 Shramik Specials for migrant workers, students and families to return back to their home towns, in different parts of the country.
The first Shramik Special train and first train from Mysuru left Kabakaputtur station near Mysuru at 14.38 hr with 1428 passengers to Bapudm Motihari in Bihar. The passengers expressed happiness after the first train rolled out from Mysuru.
The second Shramik Special train with 1,076 passengers from Chikbanavara left for Haridwar at 15.30 hrs. Passengers were happy to be returning to their pilgrimage hometown after almost 50 days of lockdown period.
The third Shramik special from Malur to Danapur left at 17.03 hrs with 1527 passengers on board. The migrant workers were happy that they could return as they could not make it in the earlier 6 special trains that left for Danapur.
The fourth Shramik special from Chikbanavara to Lucknow left at 17.52 hrs with 1520 passengers.
The fifth Shramik special from Malur to Purila (West Bengal) left at 19.15 hrs with 1548 passengers on board. The passengers were enthusiastic and were heard chanting slogan of Bharat mata ki Jai at train left for West Bengal.
The Sixth Shramik special from Chikkabanavara to Lucknow left at 19.58 with 1520 passengers. This is the 10 special train to Lucknow from Bengaluru and passengers were seen waving out as the train left Chikkabanavara.
The seventh Shramik Special from Malur to Hatia with 1440 passengers left Malur at 21.10 hrs.
In addition to Bengaluru and Mysuru one Shramik Special operated by Southern Railway departed from Mangalore to Prayagraj at 16.00 hrs with 1464 passengers.
All the passengers were migrant workers eagerly waiting to return to their native town in Bihar.
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, arrangement of train services for aprox 10,059 citizens were made for them to return to their native place from Bengaluru and Mysuru.
State Government had arranged to bring passengers of Shramik Special trains to the stations through BMTC Buses as per the protocol. SWR is transporting passengers to their destination as per the demand of State Government with proper protocol and the receiving State Government is ready to accept them. The passengers are being provided with food packet and 2 water bottles of one litre capacity each, dates, cookies and buttermilk for their journey en-route. The passengers were very happy to be returning back to their hometowns. They thanked the Railways and State Government 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 Government is ready to accept them. These special trains are being run from point to point with no stoppages en-route.
Care is being taken to ensure social distancing, wearing of masks and sanitizing of hands with making regular announcement to caution the passengers and prevention of Covid-19 virus before departure from Chikkabanavara, Malur and Kabakaputtur 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 is 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 and ensuring social distancing. 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.
Anyone who has to travel should contact the State Govt. only and No tickets are being issued at Railway Stations over SWR. Reservation can be done for special train services through IRCTC website.
Special train services:
Ministry of Railways (MoR) in consultation with Ministry of Health & Family welfare (MoHFW) and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has decided to partially restore 15 pairs of train services similar to Rajdhani train services without catering from the Capital today in a graded manner. Fifteen pair of special trains (thirty trains) is being operated to and from the Capital.
After partial resumption of normal services the first special train from Karnataka with 1074 passengers left KSR Bengaluru Station at 20.30 hrs for New Delhi. Normal resumption of train services was possible without facing any difficulty. SWR is ensuring hand sanitization for every passenger before entry to platform. Hand sanitzer along with liquid soap has been provided in all coaches to protect and prevent spread of Covid-19 Virus. Railway is also ensuring complete sanitization of all coaches before boarding of special train by the passengers.
