Considering problems being faced by the train passengers after arriving at the railway stations at their destination, the Union Home Ministry on Thursday allowed states and Union Territories to hire special buses to ferry these people to their locations.
“Keeping in view the situation, state and UT governments are allowed to engage special buses from railway stations wherever public or personal transport is not available, maintaining proper distancing norms,” Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said n an order to Chief Secretaries of all states.
Under the Standard Operating Protocol (SOP), to and fro movement of passengers from railway station to home has been allowed on the basis of confirmed e-tickets, the order reads.
The Home Ministry move comes after some of the state governments requested to allow special buses to ferry the passengers arriving by train to their home, keeping in view restrictions placed on public or personal transport in various zones.
The order followed the May 11 SOPs announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs that mentions strict adherence to health, hygiene and social distancing between the passengers travelling in ‘Shramik’ special trains which have been ferrying thousands of migrant workers to their native places. The SOPs for movement of persons by selected special AC trains begun this week include movement of passengers to and fro railway stations only on confirmed e-ticket and after compulsory medical screening.
