18.35 Lakh migrants with families reached their home towns in 1221 Shramik special trains

 Porbandar – Shalimar & Okha – Guwahati Parcel Special Trains Extended To Run With Revised Dates

Western Railway  has operated 1221  Shramik Special trains from 2nd  May, 2020 to 11th  June, 2020, which have carried approx. 18.35 lakh migrant labourers & their families to their desired destinations. Lakhs of migrant workers and their families have been benefitted by the Indian Railway’s decision to run such Shramik Special trains.     

According to a press release issued by WR CPRO Ravinder Bhakar, out of the 1221 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. Around 18.35 lakh passengers have been ferried by Western Rly to their home towns in different states of the country from 2nd  May, 2020 to 11th  June, 2020.

Bhakar stated that these Shramik Special trains have helped in facilitating faster movement of stranded labourers and their families to their native places.

On 11h June, 2020, one Shramik special train left for Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh  from Borivali of Mumbai suburban section. From 3rd May to 11th  June, 2020, a total of 184 Shramik Special Trains have originated from Mumbai Suburban Section, including 67 Shramik special trains from Bandra Terminus, 72 from Borivali, 31 from Vasai Road, 2 from Dahanu Road and 12 from Palghar station. These trains were departed for Gorakhpur, Jaunpur , Gonda , Varanasi, Pratapgarh, Bhagalpur, Prayagraj, Darbhanga, Danapur, Howrah.

Out of these 1221 trains, Mumbai division has handled highest 709 trains, Ahmedabad division 259, Vadodara division 100, Bhavnagar division 30, Rajkot division 117 and Ratlam division 6 Shramik trains. These special trains are being operated by maintaining 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

Bhakar informed that due to the demands received from the suppliers, WR has been very accommodating to revise the dates of run of Porbandar – Shalimar and Okha – Guwahati parcel special trains. It is pertinent to mention here that these parcel special trains transport essential and critical items to mitigate the effects of partial lockdown. Hence, WR makes all possible efforts to ensure that the supplies are reached to their destinations without any hitch.

The Porbandar – Shalimar parcel special train will now run with revised dates. Train No 00913 Porbandar – Shalimar parcel special train will leave Porbandar at 8.00 hrs on 13th, 15th, 17th, 19th, 21st , 23rd , 25th , 27th & 29th  June  2020 & will reach Shalimar at 03.30 hrs on third day. Similarly, Train No 00914 Shalimar – Porbandar parcel special will leave Shalimar at 22.50 hrs on   15th, 17th, 19th, 21st , 23rd , 25th , 27th, 29th  June  & 1st July 2020 & will reach Porbandar at 18.25 hrs on third day.

The train will halt at Jamnagar, Rajkot, Surendra Nagar, Ahmedabad, Anand, Vadodara, Surat, Nandurbar, Bhusaval, Akola, Badnera, Nagpur, Durg, Raipur, Bilaspur, Jharsuguda Jn, Rourkela, Chakaradharpur, Tata Nagar and Kharagpur Jn. in both directions.

Similarly, Revised dates of Okha – Guwahati parcel special trains are as follows :- Train No 00949 Okha – Guwahati parcel special train will leave Okha on 14th, 17th, 21st, 24th & 28th June 2020 at 07.15 hrs & will reach Guwahati on the third day at 17.00 hrs.

 Similarly, Train No 00950 Guwahati – Okha parcel special train will leave Guwahati at 16.00 hrs on  17th, 20th, 24th, 27th June & 1st  July, 2020 & will reach Okha at 01.10 hrs on the fourth day.

 The train will halt at Jamnagar, Rajkot, Surendranagar, Ahmedabad, Anand, Chhayapuri, Ratlam, Kota, Sawai Madhopur, Bayana, Agra Fort, Tundla, Kanpur, Lucknow, Varanasi, Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Jn, Patna, Muzaffarpur Jn, Katihar, New Bongaigaon and Changsari stations in both directions.

However, due to less utilization of the Bandra Terminus – Okha – Bandra Terminus parcel special trains, further trips of this train along with its pairing parcel special rake have been cancelled. Thus, trips of Train No 00931/00922 Bandra Terminus – Okha – Bandra Terminus parcel special trains, Journey Commencing On 14th, 16th, 18th, 20th, 22nd, 24th, 26th & 28th June 2020 have been cancelled.

Bhakar stated that since 22nd March till 11th June, 2020, total 6073 rakes of goods trains have been used by WR to supply essential commodities amounting to 12.14 million tonnes. 11,982 freight trains have been interchanged with other zonal railways, in which 6030  trains were handed over and 5,952 trains taken over at different interchange points.

 328 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.

He further added that on 12th June, 2020, four parcel special trains, including a milk rake left from WR viz . Bandra Terminus – Ludhiana, Bandra Terminus – Okha and Okha – Bandra Terminus 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 11h June, 2020, commodities weighing more than 54  thousand tonnes have been transported by Western Rly through its 327 parcel special trains, which included agricultural produce, medicines, fish, milk etc.

 The earnings generated through this transportation, has been approx Rs 17.40 crore. During this period, forty one milk special trains were run by Western Rly, with a load of more than 30 thousand tonnes and 100% utilization of the wagons, generating revenue of approx Rs 5.24 crore.

Similarly, 281  Covid-19 special parcel trains with a load of more than 21 thousand tonnes were also run to transport essential commodities, for which the revenue earned was Rs 11.09 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

Bhakar said that the total loss of earnings over Western Railway on account of Corona Virus lockdown, has been over Rs 1275 crore, which includes Rs 181.83 crore for suburban section and Rs 1093.38 crore for non-suburban. Inspite of this, resulting to cancellation of tickets till now, Western Railway has ensured to return refund amount of  Rs. 331.46 crore.

It’s worth mentioning that in this refund amount, Mumbai division alone, has ensured refund of Rs 154.69 crore. Till now, 50.79 lakh passengers have cancelled their tickets over entire Western Railway & have received their refund amount accordingly.