GUWAHATI: After the Congress Party said that they would be providing for the fares of the railway journeys to be undertaken by the stranded workers, the central government has clarified that while the Centre would be paying 85 percent of the fare, the respective state governments are to pay the remaining 15 percent.
Subramanian Swamy, BJP MP, informed about the same on 4th May after discussions with railway minister Piyush Goyal.
The Indian railways had started the operation of 'Shramik Special' trains from 1st May to facilitate the movement of migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students and other people who have been stranded in different states during the lockdown period.
The Railways has reportedly been charging non-AC sleeper fare as per distance along with a superfast charge of Rs 30 and a reserved-berth charge of Rs 20 levied on each ticket.
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The tickets include meals and drinking water for long-distance trains.
Earlier, the railways had said that the state government could foot the bills on behalf of the passengers.
As such, Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi had said that the state units of the Congress or the Pradesh Congress Committees (PCC) will be bearing the “cost of rail travel of every needy worker and migrant labour.”
The Shramik Special trains have been operating from 1st May to facilitate the movement of migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students and other people who were stranded in different states during the lockdown period.
