Lakhs of migrant workers and their families have been benefitted by the Indian Railway’s decision to run Shramik Special trains. In continuation to this, with 2 more shramik special trains departed from Surat on 17th June, 2020, Western Railway has operated total 1226 SHRAMIK SPL trains from 2nd May, 2020 to 17th June, 2020, which have carried approx. 18.44 lakh migrant labourers & their families to their desired destinations.
Out of the 1226 Shramik special trains, maximum trains were bound for Uttar Pradesh followed by Bihar. The special Shramik trains were also operated to states of Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Gujarat, Manipur, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Maharashtra. Approx. 18.44 lakh passengers have been ferried by Western Rly to their home towns in different states of the country, from 2nd May, 2020 to 17th June, 2020.
Shramik Special trains have helped in facilitating faster movement of stranded labourers and their families to their native places. On 17th June, 2020, two Shramik special trains left from Gujarat. Both these trains left from Surat to Brahmapur in Orissa and to Danapur in Bihar respectively. From 3rd May to 17th June, 2020, a total of 187 Shramik Special Trains have originated from various stations under Mumbai Suburban Section, including 68 Shramik special trains from Bandra Terminus, 73 from Borivali, 31 from Vasai Road, 2 from Dahanu Road and 13 from Palghar station.
These trains were departed for Gorakhpur, Jaunpur , Gonda , Varanasi, Pratapgarh, Bhagalpur, Prayagraj, Darbhanga, Danapur, Howrah etc. Out of these 1226 trains, Mumbai division has operated highest 714 trains, Ahmedabad division 259, Vadodara division 100, Bhavnagar division 30, Rajkot division 117 and Ratlam division 6 Shramik special trains. These special trains are being operated by maintaining all social distancing norms, as well as proper thermal screening of passengers, is also being ensured before boarding the train. During the journey, passengers are also being given free meals and packaged drinking water.
TRANSPORTATION OF ESSENTIALS
Since 22nd March till 17th June, 2020, total 6632 rakes of goods trains have been used by WR to supply essential commodities amounting to 13.50 million tonnes. 13,140 freight trains have been interchanged with other zonal railways, in which 6588 trains were handed over and 6552 trains taken over at different interchange points. 344 Millennium Parcel rakes of Parcel Vans/ Railway Milk Tankers (RMTs) have been sent to different parts of the country to supply as per the demands of essential items such as milk powder, liquid milk and other general consumer goods. Shri Bhakar further added that on 18th June, 2020, three parcel special trains, including a milk rake, left from WR including Bandra Terminus – Ludhiana and Kankaria – Khurda Rd. parcel special train.
One milk rake also left from Palanpur to Hind Terminal. It is worth mentioning, that during the lockdown period, since 23rd March to 17th June, 2020, commodities weighing almost 59 thousand tonnes have been transported by Western Rly through its 343 parcel special trains, which included agricultural produce, medicines, fish, milk etc. The earnings generated through this transportation, has been approx Rs 18.80 crore. During this period, forty four milk special trains were run by Western Rly, with a load of more than 32 thousand tonnes and 100% utilization of the wagons, generating revenue of approx Rs 5.65 crore. Similarly, 294 Covid-19 special parcel trains with a load of more than 23 thousand tonnes were also run to transport essential commodities, for which the revenue earned was Rs 12.09 crore. In addition to this, 5 indented rakes carrying 2378 tonnes were also run with 100% utilization generating revenue of more than Rs 1.07 crore.
LOSS & REFUND UPDATE OF WR
The total loss of earnings over Western Railway on account of Corona Virus lockdown, has been over Rs 1359 crore, which includes Rs 195.03 crore for suburban section and Rs 1164.12 crore for non-suburban. Inspite of this, resulting to cancellation of tickets till now, Western Railway has ensured to return refund amount of Rs. 347.32 crore. It’s worth mentioning that in this refund amount, Mumbai division alone, has ensured refund of Rs 163.29 crore. Till now, 53.37 lakh passengers have cancelled their tickets over entire Western Railway & have received their refund amount accordingly.
