BILASPUR ROAD

WR Press Release No. 2020/06Mumbai, 12^thJune, 2020

18.35 LAKH MIGRANT LABOURERS AND THEIR FAMILIES LEFT FOR THEIR HOME TOWNS IN WESTERN RLY’S 1221 SHRAMIK SPECIAL TRAINS

Porbandar – Shalimar& Okha – Guwahati Parcel Special TrainsTo Run With Revised Dates

Western Railwayhas operated 1221SHRAMIK SPLtrains from 2^ndMay, 2020 to 11^thJune, 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 Shri Ravinder Bhakar - Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, out of the 1221 Shramik special trains, maximumtrains were bound for Uttar Pradesh followed by Bihar. The special Shramik trains were also operatedto states ofOrissa, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan,Uttarakhand, West Bengal,Gujarat, Manipur, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Maharashtra. Approx. 18.35 lakh passengers have been ferried by Western Rly totheir home towns in different states of the country from 2^ndMay, 2020 to 11^thJune, 2020. Shri Bhakar stated that these Shramik Special trains have helped in facilitating faster movement of stranded labourers and their families to their native places. o­n 11^h June, 2020, o­ne Shramik special train left for Azamgarh in Uttar Pradeshfrom Borivali of Mumbai suburban section .From 3^rd May to 11^thJune, 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 etc. 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 OFESSENTIALS

Shri 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 13^th, 15^th, 17^th, 19^th, 21^st , 23^rd , 25^th , 27^th& 29^thJune2020 & 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 o­n15^th, 17^th, 19^th, 21^st , 23^rd , 25^th, 27^th, 29^thJune& 1^st 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 14^th, 17^{th ,} 21^st ,24^th & 28^thJune 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 o­n17^th, 20^th, 24^th , 27^th June & 1^stJuly, 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 14^th, 16^th, 18^th, 20^th, 22^nd, 24^th, 26^th & 28^thJune 2020 have been cancelled.

Shri Bhakar stated that since 22^ndMarch till 11^th 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 6030trains 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. Shri Bhakar further added that o­n 12^th 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 23^rd March to 11^hJune, 2020, commodities weighing more than 54thousand 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, 281Covid-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

Shri 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 ofRs. 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.

**********

Central Railway

Press Release

Central Railway – Moments of hope & celebrations witnessed o­nboard as babies took birth o­n Shramik Special Trains

Railways is playing a proactive role in the lives of many needy patients during the time of Global crisis due to Corona virus Pandemic. Railways have received gratitude and praises for their spontaneous and prompt action for serving many patients including pregnant women.

Bhusaval Division:

On 14th May 2020, a message received for medical help requirements in General Coach of train no. 01831 Pune – Gorakhpur Shramik Special. When the train arrived o­n Platform No. 2 at Bhusaval station at about 6.15 am, Dr. Kamlakar Gorakh, Divisional Medical Officer, Bhusaval along with his medical team accompanied by Deputy Station Manager and Railway Protection Force staff attended the passenger. Railway doctor checked

Mrs Savitri Devi, was in labour pain and delivered a baby boy weighing 2.6 kg inside the coach at Bhusaval railway station. Following the delivery, she was immediately shifted to Bhusaval Divisional Railway Hospital. The following day, the team Bhusaval division made arrangements for the patient and relatives to go back home by another Shramik special train. Mrs. Savitri Devi and her relatives were full of gratitude and thanked Indian Railways for the prompt action by Medical, RPF and operating and commercial teams of Central Railway.

Bhusaval Division:

On 30th May 2020, when 01856 Lokmanya Tilak Terminus – Basti Shramik Special train arrived o­n Bhusaval station at about 01.03 am, passengers informed o­n duty Deputy Station Superintendent, Bhusaval that a woman travelling in General Coach of the train delivered a baby girl in the train before 2 hours. Dr. Harika, Railway Medical Officer with the Medical team and RPF staff checked Smt Tayara Khatun w/o Salimullah Khan, Resident of Govandi, Mumbai. Dr Harika found mother and baby were normal. All kinds of medical assistance provided by team Bhusaval division.

Nagpur Division:

On 17th May 2020, a call received for want of doctor to attend train No 02162 Shramik special at Nagpur informing a pregnant lady named Eswari Rajendra Yadav-F-23 travelling in S-8 with family members from Haridwar to Bilaspur delivered a baby in train before reaching Nagpur. Message given to the railway doctor who immediately attended the train. Dr. Mangesh with other lady staff attended and provided medical aid. Both mother and baby were safe.

Besides the above-mentioned few examples, Central Railway during the course of this lockdown has quenched the thirst of survival of many ailing patients by providing help and earned commendations. The people travelling by Shramik trains were overwhelmed seeing Indian Railways team’s co-ordination, dedication and responsibility beyond the call of their duty.

--- ---

Date: June 5, 2020

2020/06/05

This press release is issued by the Public Relations Department, Central Railway, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus Mumbai.