Migrant workers heading back to their native places

Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, June 10

Contrary to the claims made by the state government and the district administration that most migrant workers willing to go back to their native places were sent on ‘Shramik Special’ trains, at least four Covid-19 special trains from the region to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkand and West Bengal are still running to capacity. No reservation is available for at least a month or even two months on a couple of these trains.

After the first ‘Sharmik Special’ train, which departed from the industrial capital on May 5 carrying around 900 passengers on board, the Railways operated 207 trains, which ferried nearly 3.34 lakh migrants from the city to their native places in different states.

The district authorities had claimed that even though around 8 lakh migrant workers, inclusive of their family members, had registered their names on the government app, many of these had now decided to stay on as industry and businesses had been allowed to resume work.

The regular run of the ‘Shramik Special’ trains was suspended last week after the Railways were told that there were no more migrants willing to travel back. Thereafter, some trains were requisitioned only on need basis for which intending passengers were called for on the spot boarding.

However, at least four out of the nine Covid-19 special trains run by the Railways from this region (Amritsar/Jammu Tawi/Ludhiana), tell a different story altogether by way of long waiting lists for confirmed seats in these trains.

According to Railways officials, no confirmed ticket (in second sitting and sleeper class) were available for destinations in Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal in 02358 Amritsar-Kolkata Durgiana Express (before July 27) and 02408 Amritsar-New Jalpaiguri Karambhoomi Express (before July 8).

Similarly, the 04650 Saryu Yamuna Express and 04674 Shaheed Express running on the Amritsar-Jaynagar route via several stations in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar were booked till August 8 and August 6, respectively.

In a stark contrast, availability of seats was quite easy in five other Covid-19 special trains. In two trains from Amritsar to Bandra Terminus and Mumbai Central – 02926 Pashchim Express and 02904 Golden Temple Mail as well as 02716 Amritsar-Nanded Sachkhand Express and 02426 Jammu Tawi- New Delhi AC Express – tickets were available for journey anytime next week whereas in 02054 Amritsar-Haridwar Janshatabdi Express confirmed seats were available for travelling the same day or next day.