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    Reverse migration begins from UP, Bihar, more passenger trains soon: Chairman Railway Board

    Synopsis

    “So far as reverse migration is concerned, it is happening via regular trains,” VK Yadav said at a press briefing. He said that booking for trains originating from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, where more than 70% of the migrant special trains went, has begun towards Maharashtra, Gujarat and Ahmedabad.

    trainAgencies
    “It is very encouraging that people from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, are going towards Mumbai and Bangalore,” Yadav said.
    NEW DELHI: Reverse migration of people who had returned to their home States via shramik trains has begun via special trains that began operations in June, Chairman Railway Board VK Yadav said on Friday, adding that more passenger trains will be allowed going forward, with demand and spread of Covid-19 being the key determining factors.

    “So far as reverse migration is concerned, it is happening via regular trains,” Yadav said at a press briefing. He said that booking for trains originating from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, where more than 70% of the migrant special trains went, has begun towards Maharashtra, Gujarat and Ahmedabad.

    The railway ministry, on May 1st, began operating Shramik special trains for transporting stranded migrants back to their home states amid the Covid-19 outbreak.

    “It is very encouraging that people from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, are going towards Mumbai and Bangalore,” Yadav said.

    The Indian Railways halted its operations of over 12,000 passenger trains March 22nd onwards, right before a nationwide lockdown to combat Covid-19 was announced on March 24. The railway ministry announced 30 Rajdhani trains in May, and 200 mail express trains that started operations June 1 onwards.

    He added that the government is tracking the demand pattern on the 230 special passenger trains being operated by the Indian Railways, and frequency on particular routes where demand is high, will be increased in the days to come.

    “This is a good sign that the economy is reviving,” Yadav said. “Right now we will increase special trains. As far as running trains on full strength (is concerned), it will take time and will depend on what is the status of covid-19 spread,” Yadav said.

    In the coming weeks, or 10 days the railway ministry will be finalizing more trains, depending on these requirements, Yadav said.



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