New SOP For Shramik Trains : Now Railways To Directly Run Trains In Consultation With MHA

The Ministry of Home Affairs issued on Tuesday fresh guidelines for the operation of Shramik special trains for stranded persons.

As per the new Standard Operating Procedure,  Ministry of Railways will directly run trains for stranded persons, in consultation with Ministry of Home Affairs, changing the earlier procedure whereby trains were run on mutual request basis between States.

States/UTs have been directed to make suitable arrangements for sending and receiving stranded persosn. Only asymptomatic persons will be allowed to travel.

Home Secretary, Ajay Bhalla IAS, wrote to the Chief Secretaries of States and Union Territories about the new guidelines formulated in exercise of powers under Section 10(2)(l) of the Disaster Management Act 2005.

The SOPs allow movement of stranded workers by trains as under:

• Ministry of Railways (MoR) would permit Movement of Shramik Special trains in consultation with MHA.
• All States/ UTs should designate nodal authorities and make necessary arrangements for receiving and sending such stranded persons.
• Based on the requirements of States/UTs, the train schedule, including stoppages and destination would be finalized by MoR. The same would be communicated by MoR to the States/UTs for making suitable arrangements for sending and receiving such stranded workers.
• Publicity of train schedule, protocols for entry and movement of passengers, services to be provided in coaches, and arrangements with States/UTs for booking of tickets would be done by MoR.
• Sending States/ UTs and MoR would ensure that all passengers are compulsorily screened and only asymptomatic passengers are allowed to board the train.
• Social distancing to be observed by all passengers during boarding and travel.
• On arrival at their destination, the travelling passengers will have to adhere to such health protocols as are prescribed by the destination State/ UT.

On April 29, the Centre allowed in the inter-state movement of persons who got stranded at different places due to lockdown, such as migrant workers, students, pilgrims, tourists etc.

As per the guidelines, special trains were run on the basis of mutual consent between the sending state and receiving state.