Average Ticket Fare On Shramik Special Trains Rs 600, Ferried 60 Lakh Migrants: Indian Railways

The tickets for Shramik Special trains had kicked up a storm soon after the trains started operations with many political parties alleging that the Railways was charging migrants for the journeys.

cost of operating a migrant special train was between Rs 75-80 lakh. (Image: PTI)

New Delhi: The Indian Railways on Monday said that it had ferried close to 60 lakh migrant workers home since May 1 through the 'Shramik Special' passenger trains, but managed to recover only 15 per cent of the operational cost of the travel. Pointing out the development, Railway Board Chairman VK Yadav stated that average fare of Shramik Special trains was Rs 600 per person and Indian Railways had so far run 4,450 such trains. Yadav also pointed out that Indian Railways has generated a revenue of around Rs 360 crore from Shramik Special trains. "The average fare of Shramik Special trains is Rs 600 per passenger. One has to keep in mind that these are normal fares of mail, express trains and not fares for special trains which are higher. We carried 60 lakh passengers, so the revenue can be calculated. We however, managed to recover only 15 percent of cost of operations, 85 per cent of the cost is being borne by the centre," Yadav said. "Most migrant workers have returned to their destinations and we are coordinating with state governments to send back the remaining labourers as well," Yadav said. "We had asked state governments to send us their demand of remaining trains on June 3 and we received a demand for 171 Shramik Special trains from various states," he informed adding that Indian Railways have run 222 Shramik Special trains till June as off June 14. While speaking to news agency PTI, sources in Indian Railways said that the cost of operating a migrant special was between Rs 75-80 lakh. The tickets for Shramik Special trains had kicked up a storm soon after the trains started operations with many political parties alleging that the Railways was charging migrants for the journeys. Denying the charges, the Central government said the Railways was charging only 15 per cent of the cost of operations in the form of fares from the originating state government and 85 per cent of the cost was being borne by the national transporter. Yadav also said that the 230 trains that are being operated currently most of them have no waiting listing till June and July.