Migrant workers, students and others stranded in different parts of the country are allowed to return home by special trains that will be run by the Indian Railways, the Union home ministry said on Friday, expanding the scope of an earlier order that said such transportation can happen only by buses.

The railways ministry will designate nodal officers for coordination with states and Union Territories, the home ministry order said. And soon after, the railways ministry released detailed guidelines on the social-distancing norms to be followed at stations and inside trains. Guidelines on the sale of tickets are expected soon.

On the occasion of Labour Day (on May 1), the government has decided to run “Shramik Special” trains to transport migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students and other persons stuck across the country due to the lockdown triggered by the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak, the railways ministry said.

“These special trains will be run from point to point on the request of both the concerned state governments (those sending and receiving the passengers) as per the standard protocols…The Railways and State Governments shall appoint senior officials as Nodal Officers for coordination…,” the ministry said.

Passengers will have to be screened by states sending them, and those found with no symptoms of Covid-19 will be allowed to travel. These people will have to be brought to railway stations in batches in sanitised buses. Social-distancing norms have to be followed and all passengers will have to use face covers, or masks.

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Globally, the number of dead from the coronavirus has risen to 18,915 with more than 422,900 cases reported in over 165 countries and territories, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

The number of coronavirus cases in India stood at 606 on Wednesday with nine COVID-19 deaths reported so far, according to Health Ministry data.

In an attempt to stem the spread of coronavirus in India, PM Modi on Tuesday announced a nationwide lockdown for three weeks.

“United Nations stands in solidarity with India in its fight against COVID-19,” said a video message tweeted by United Nations News, the UN’s multimedia service.

Heeding to a call by PM Modi, people came out on their balconies, windows and courtyards to applaud the work of medical professionals on the frontlines in the fight against COVID-19.

The normally bustling streets across India wore a deserted look throughout the day as people participated in the curfew. The UN News video showed footage of empty roads and urban spaces on Sunday, just two days before PM Modi announced the nationwide lockdown for three weeks.

“India is on a 21-day lockdown to try and prevent the COVID-19 pandemic from taking hold. The @UN health agency @WHO urged the Gov to take aggressive action,” UN News tweeted.

WHO Representative to India Henk Bekedam praised the country’s response to the pandemic, describing it as “comprehensive and robust”. “Massive efforts have been made towards prevention and containing the spread, including strengthening surveillance, laboratory capacity, contact tracing and isolation and risk communications,” Henk Bekedam said.

He said the Prime Minister’s call for social distancing had received widespread community support across the country. “It is vital that we come together in solidarity and help in breaking the chain of transmission and flattening the curve,” he said.

The WHO and other UN partners have been working closely with the Indian government on preparedness and response measures, disease surveillance, laboratory and research protocols, risk communications, training on infection prevention and control and cluster containment plan, surveillance and tracking of travellers.

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However, the metro services will operated for essential internal operational maintenance activities during this duration and security of the system will continue to be taken care of by CISF, DMRC said in a statement.
Noida-Greater Noida metro, city bus services will also be suspended till March 31 with immediate effect, declared NMRC.

Earlier, on account of nation-wide ‘Janta Curfew’ that was observed on Sunday from 7 am to 9 pm after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal, the Delhi Metro had decided to keep its services closed on 22 March 2020. “In the wake of ‘Janata Curfew’ to be observed this Sunday i.e, on 22nd March 2020, DMRC has decided to keep its services closed. The move is aimed at encouraging public to stay indoors and maintain social distancing, which is essential in the fight against Covid-19,” DMRC said in a tweet. In a statement, DMRC also said, “Random thermal scanning of passengers will be carried out at all metro stations.”

Moreover, the Cabinet Secretary on Sunday reviewed Covid-19 status with Chief Secretaries of states and a slew of decisions were taken, which included lockdown in 75 districts across the country affected by corona virus. These districts have either reported confirmed cases or casualties relating to Covid-19. Only essential services will be allowed in these 75 districts.

It also decided that all trains will be stopped till 31 March, no metro rail and inter-state buses will operate till month-end.

Also, the decision to stop inter-state public transport was taken because the government noted a trend of people, especially migrant labourers working in big cities, scrambling to take trains to go back to their villages in states in the East and other parts of the country.

Earlier in the day, the Railways announced suspension of all trains from March 22 till March 31. Only goods trains will be allowed to ply during this period.

Meanwhile, the West Bengal government put Kolkata under lock down till March 31 to control COVID-19. The Punjab government also announced its decision to enforce lock down in the entire state till March 31.

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