Migrant worker Bibhuti Khatua has mostly been confined to his one-room dwelling in Kotla Mubarakpur here with his ailing wife since Saturday.
After the weekend lockdown, the plumber in his mid-40s had on Monday reported for work at the construction site where he is employed. But the state government then announced a total lockdown from Tuesday morning till the next Monday morning.
For the next five days, therefore, Khatua will be dipping into his meagre savings of Rs 4,000 to meet his daily needs and buy medicines for his wife.
Returning to his village in Kendrapada, Odisha, will cost him his entire savings without offering hope of work back home. Staying back means surviving five days on the uncertain hope that the lockdown would be lifted on Monday and work will resume.
Covid-2 0: Railways Commissions Over 100 Trains To Clear Rush Of Migrants
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As of Wednesday, the Railways had approved 9,622 special trains, including weekly ones
The Railways has pushed its train operations to 70 per cent of pre-Covid level amid reports of a rush of migrant workers to their hometowns from big cities which have witnessed a surge in coronavirus cases, and a return of stricter curbs. According to official data, the Railways further plans to press into service 133 additional trains 88 summer specials and 45 festival specials over the next two weeks.
As of Wednesday, the Railways had approved 9,622 special trains, including weekly ones, which translated into an average of 7,745 trains daily. The pre-Covid average was 11,283 trains. The national transporter is running 5,387 suburban trains (92 per cent of pre Covid times) with the maximum services operating in the Central Railway zone under which Mumbai and Pune come. As much as 82 per cent of mail express and 25 per cent local trains are back on track.
No state has asked the railways to stop any train service yet, Railway Board Chairman Suneet Sharma said on Friday, adding that wherever the states have raised concerns about containment zones, passengers have undergone random tests and checks at the destinations. Addressing a press conference, Sharma said the railways has highlighted that all protocols are being followed by the states on the IRCTC s e ticketing website, advising passengers if they need to undergo an RT-PCR test or carry COVID-negative certificates while travelling to certain areas. As of now, no state government has asked us to stop trains. However, whenever there are concerns, the state governments have discussed the issues with us and where there are containment zones, they are doing random tests and checks. The railways has all these details on the e-ticketing website and passengers are provided information on whether they have to undergo tests or carry a COVID-negative certificate on arrival, he said.
Highlights
The Railways plans to press into service 133 additional trains 88 summer specials and 45 festival specials over the next two weeks
It had approved 9,622 special trains, including weekly ones, which translated into an average of 7,745 trains daily
New Delhi: Indian Railways has pushed its train operations to 70 per cent of pre-Covid level amid reports of a rush of migrant workers to their hometowns from big cities. The Railways further plans to press into service 133 additional trains 88 summer specials and 45 festival specials over the next two weeks, said a PTI report citing official data.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Railways had approved 9,622 special trains, including weekly ones, which translated into an average of 7,745 trains daily. The pre-COVID average was 11,283 trains.
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