Bengaluru Belagavi Express Starts Service
Post-Lockdown the first intrastate train in India Train No.06597, KSR Bengaluru – Belagavi tri-weekly Superfast Express left from KSR Bengaluru at 8 am with 274 passengers from Bengaluru and 64 from Davangere. All passengers underwent thermal screening and wore mask and maintained social distancing as they boarded the train to Belagavi. Stoppages have been provided at Yesvantpur, Tumakuru, Arsikere, Birur, Chikjajur, Davangere, Harihar, Ranibennur, Haveri, Hubballi and Dharwad.
Bengaluru Mysuru Daily Special Starts Service
Second intrastate train post lockdown, Train No. 06503 Bengaluru – Mysuru daily special Express later departed from PF No.7 of KSR Bengaluru at 09.20 am. Total 37 passengers boarded train from Bengaluru to Mysuru. Stoppage was given at Kengeri, Ramanagaram, Maddur, Mandya, Pandavapura and Naganahalli. On the return leg the train left Mysuru at 13.45 hrs.
Six Shramik Special Trains Operated on Friday
6 (six) Shramik Specials were also run on Friday carrying migrant workers, students and families to their home towns in different parts of the country. Today 22.05.2020, SWR operated 6 more Shramik Special trains, one each from Hubballi to Lucknow and Bellari to Dhanbad, four from Bengaluru i.e. two each to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh upto 7.30 pm.
Today, sofar 9,279 passengers were ferried on eight Shramik Special. SWR has so far run 125 Shramik Specials carrying 1.76 migrant workers, students and families to return to their home towns, in different parts of the country after the relaxation of Lockdown in Karnataka.
Three more Shramik special trains are slated to run later this evening from Bengaluru to West Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha.
SWR’s first Shramik Special today left from Hubballi to Lucknow at 12.10 hrs with 1636 passengers followed by the second from Bellary to Dhanbad at 12.25 hrs with 1556 passengers. So far Hubballi division has run 14 Shramik Specials for the migrant workers of this region.
After completing a century of Sharmik special from Bengaluru Division, SWR’s third Shramik Special today left from Bengaluru Cant. to Barauni in Bihar with 1538 passengers at 15.15 hrs and later today’s fourth Shramik Special left from KSR Bengaluru for Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh at 16.40 hrs with 1500 passengers.
The fifth Shramik Special left from Bengaluru Cant to Saharsa in Bihar at 19.00 hrs with 1549 passengers.
The sixth Shramik Special left from Bengaluru Cant to Basti in Uttar Pradesh at 19.30 hrs with 1500 passengers.
SWR has taken initiative to distribute toys to the children of the migrant workers leaving Bengaluru in the Shramik Special trains so that they will have memories of their return journey. These Channapatna toys are famous and made of wood and quite popular among the children and also a symbol of self reliant India. Hon’ble Prime Minister has appreciated the initative of SWR and has today tweeted in Mann Ki Baat tweet updates.
Hon’ble Minister of Railway has informed that Railway is ready to operate Special trains in coordination with State Government to carry stranded migrant workers and families to their hometowns.
Hon’ble MoSR, has assured that SWR will continue running Shramik special to carry stranded migrant workers and ensure that there is no shortage of food and essential commodities during the covid-19 crisis.
SWR is transporting passengers to their destination as per the demand of State Government with proper protocol and the receiving State Government is ready to accept them. These special trains are being run from point to point with no stoppages en-route. State Government is arranging to bring passengers of Shramik Special trains to the stations through BMTC Buses as per the protocol.
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) have granted permission for movement of the stranded citizens including migrants labourers, workers, students, tourists to return to their native towns. As per the list provided by State Government, arrangement of train services for aprox 9279 citizens were made for them to return to their native place from Bengaluru, Belary and Hubballi.
The passengers are being provided with food packet and 2 water bottles of one litre capacity each, dates, cookies and buttermilk for their journey en-route. The passengers were very happy to be returning to their hometowns. They thanked the Railways and State Govt for arranging their return journey.
Care is being taken to ensure social distancing, wearing of masks and sanitizing of hands and making regular announcement to caution the passengers for prevention and spread of Covid-19 virus before departure from Hubballi, Chikbanawar, Malur and Bengaluru Cant. Stations. Hand Sanitizer along with liquid soap has been provided in all coaches to protect against spread of Covid-19 Virus. Railway is also ensuring complete sanitization of all coaches before boarding of special train by the passengers.
Special Trains are departing the Stations only after all the passengers are medically examined by Government of Karnataka and issued medical certificate.
Thermal screening is again done by Railway Medical Teams at the stations. None of the passengers was detected with high temperature. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) team is escorting the trains and ensuring social distancing. Details of passengers, coach-wise with address and mobile Nos. have been obtained. Details have been digitalized and stored for contact tracing in future, if required.
