Karnataka to restart trains for migrants

08/05/2020

N. Manjunath Prasad, nodal officer for inter-State travel, has written to the Railways and the governments of nine States — Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Manipur, Tripura, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Odisha — requisitioning at least one train to these destinations every day from May 8 to 15.

Two trains sought

Karnataka has sought two special trains every day to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Odisha, as most of the migrant workers come from these States and make up the bulk of those registered on Seva Sindhu, a portal for travel out of the State. Bihar has approved only one train per day.

“The State is ready to run as many trains as needed. But trains can be organised only after receiving consent from the States. There are logistics issues in these States owing to return of so many migrants,” he said.