UPSRTC ferried 8L migrants till May 4
While there is not much discussion about exodus this year, transport body claims return of the migrants to their home state Uttar Pradesh continues unabated
Amid graded Covid-19 lockdown in various states, the return of the migrants to their home state Uttar Pradesh continues unabated. The only difference this time is that unlike a year ago when the exodus (people walking thousands of kilometres) had captured the public memory, there is not much discussion about them.
The UP State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) buses alone have so far ferried around 8 lakh migrants since mid-April from various railway stations across the state.
“Till May 4, the UPSRTC buses have already transported around 8 lakh migrant passengers, making more than 22,000 trips from railway stations and bus stations, including the Kaushambi and Anand Vihar bus terminals in Delhi, a senior UPSRTC official said requesting anonymity. The number of migrant passengers transported by the state buses till April 29 was less than 5 lakh, he said.
“A large number of people are returning from states like Maharashtra, Delhi, Punjab etc due to lockdown or the fear of the pandemic and the process continues,” he added.
According to a recent report prepared by the UPSRTC and shared with the government, as many as 1296 trips were arranged to transport around 60,000 migrant passengers who came by 402 trains to Lucknow, Kanpur, Agra, Azamgarh, Ghaziabad, Jhansi and Prayagraj railway stations on different dates since April 15.
“The highest number of the migrants (around 2.25 lakh) was, however, picked up from the bus stations in Delhi, including Anand Vihar, Kashmiri Gate, Kaushambi and Sarai Kale Khan between April 15 and 29 only,” the report indicated.
The second wave of the pandemic had started after Holi and by the end of 2nd week of April, its magnitude was felt everywhere. Restrictions and lockdown were announced in various leading states like Maharastra and Delhi, sparking largescale movement of migrants. This despite the fact that normal transport system (trains and road transport) was very much in place.
“A top-level meeting was conducted by the additional chief secretary, home, on April 14 and directions were issued for making arrangements for adequate and safe transport of migrants expected to arrive by trains at various railway stations in UP,” another official said.
Immediate plans, he said, were put into place and all regions directed to connect to railway officials and collect information of long route interstate trains expected to arrive as per schedule and any special trains expected to arrive.
“Accordingly, from April 15, 2021 onwards train passengers were provided road transport for different destinations at railway stations,” he said.