The Railways on Tuesday said that consent of the destination states is not required for the operation of Shramik Special trains.
The announcement came just hours after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a standard operating procedure (SoP) for the national transporter to run these trains to ferry migrants to their native places.
As per reports, Railway spokesperson Rajesh Bajpai said that the consent of terminating state not necessary to run Shramik Special trains.
“After the new SOP, the implication is that no consent of receiving state is mandatory,” he added.
As per the SOP on movement of stranded workers by trains, 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,” it added.
The new rules also stated that the train schedule should also be fixed by the MoR on the basis of requirements of the States and Union Teritories.
“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,” it added.
The MHA also asked the MoR and sending states and union territories 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,” the MHA added.