New Delhi: In a bid to ferry stranded migrant workers to their home states, the Indian Railways had spent ₹2,142 crore to run Shramik Special Trains during the coronavirus-induced lockdown, while it earned revenue of just ₹429 crore from the states.
Among the states, Gujarat and Maharashtra were the top states who had sent the highest numbers of migrant workers to their native states. Gujarat has paid the highest fare of ₹102 crores to Railways as 1,027 trains were being run from there to ferry 15 lakh migrant workers to their home states.
Maharashtra had paid ₹85 crores for 12 lakh migrants, who travelled in 844 trains. Tamil Nadu had paid ₹34 crores to Railways for ferrying 4 lakh migrant workers in 271 trains.
On the other hand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal were the top receiving states of migrants. For the cost of these trains, UP paid ₹21 crore, Bihar ₹8 crore and West Bengal paid ₹64 lakh to Railways.
"It is not earning, it is expenditure. This ₹429 crore should be taken as a receipt of the total cost incurred by the Railways, which is only 15 per cent of the total cost," said Railway Spokesperson, DJ Narain to ETV Bharat.
"Railways has spent 85 per cent of the total cost, which is more than ₹2000 crores. Travelling of passengers in normal circumstances is subsidised at around 47 per cent but in this case it was doubled because return journey was empty rakes," he explained further.
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In June, a senior Railway Board official informed that the average expenditure of Railways for the travelling of migrant labourers in Shramik Specials was ₹3400.
So far, the Railways has ferried around 63 lakh migrants to their native states. Railways has met all the demands of states for Shramik Special Trains and the last service was operated on July 9. A total number of 4,615 trains have been run till date.
