MSRTC shifts over 800 migrants on second day

Nagpur: Even as shifting of migrants from other states is in full swing by the railways and Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation ( MSRTC ), regular passengers are set to benefit from eight trains that will pass through Nagpur in north, south and east directions.

On Monday, MSRTC had shifted over 800 migrants in 40 buses till 9pm to MP border near Khawasa and the Chhattisgarh border at Shirpur (Deori).

Similarly, a ‘Shramik Special’ train carried 1,600 passengers to Darbhanga from Nagpur.

To a question on dropping migrants to their destinations of choice in between, MSRTC divisional controller Nilesh Belsare said, “We cannot do so as per government orders. This is an inter-state arrangement, where officials from other state will quarantine these migrants.”

“Earlier, there were plans to introduce inter-district transportation of migrants but this move could have led to people from red zone moving to orange and green zones, causing spread of Covid-19 cases. There are plans to introduce such transportation, but it will be a paid service,” said Belsare.

“There are orders to depot managers in respective district that if migrants from Maharashtra arrive at the state borders they will be dropped to their villages. On Monday, we dropped five such passengers from Chhattisgarh border to Gondia,” Belsare said.

Meanwhile, the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Maharashtra, has demanded that all passengers arriving in the state should undergo a swab test on arrival and they should be sent for quarantine. This will take care of persons with or without symptoms.

“The thermal scan of these people, which is being done right now, should be discarded, as it is absolutely not a reliable method for screening,” said Dr Avinash Bhondwe, IMA president.

After closure of train traffic during lockdown, the Indian Railways announced running of 15 pairs of trains on Monday. Of these, Bengaluru-Delhi (02691) will arrive in Nagpur at 3.35pm on May 13, and Delhi-Bengaluru (02692) will arrive at 10.40am the same day.

Railway officials said there will be no counters for general quota passengers except for certain categories like VIPs, freedom fighters and free privilege passes for railway employees. Sources said, thermal scanning and sanitization will be done of incoming and outgoing passengers.

Similarly, Chennai-Delhi (02433) will run on Friday and Sunday from May 15, while Delhi-Chennai (02434) will run twice a week, and reach Nagpur on Thursday and Saturday at 5.50pm.

From May 14, a biweekly train has also started between Bilaspur and Delhi. The 02441 Bilaspur-Delhi will run on Mondays and Thursdays and will reach Nagpur at 9.15pm. Similarly, 02442 Delhi-Bilaspur will run on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. It will reach Nagpur on Wednesday and Monday at 6.10am.

Besides, weekly train from Secunderabad to Delhi (02437) will operate from May 20 and will reach Nagpur at 9.15pm, and Delhi-Secunderabad (02438) will run from May 17 and reach Nagpur at 5.10am on May 18.