Anil Deshmukh seeks clarity from railways on train fares for migrants

The Maharashtra government has sought clarity from the Railways over whether it is bearing 85 per cent of the transport cost of migrant workers heading home amid the lockdown, state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said on Wednesday.

These workers do not have jobs and the Railways should not charge train fare from them, Anil Deshmukh said in a video message.

The BJP on Monday said the Railways has subsidised 85 percent of ticket fare for special trains being run to transport migrant workers and the state governments have to pay the remaining 15 per cent.

So far, nearly 36,000 migrant labourers have left from Maharashtra for their native places, an official earlier said.

The Central government has facilitated special trains that are being run to transport migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students and other persons stranded at different places in the country due to lockdown.