Title - For a change, migrant workers travel in comfort

CHENNAI: Several migrant workers got to travel 'first class' on Saturday, in an unreserved special train from Chennai to Santragachi on the outskirts of Howrah.This is the first time such a train has been operated for migrant workers heading home for Dussera and Bakrid. Almost all of them travelled sitting comfortably in 10 brand new general coaches. "Earlier, I used to stand wedged between seats or toilet doors all the way to my destination in a packed unreserved coach of Coromandel Express," said Farhad, who is returning home after completing his work in Kozhikode.More than 900 people travelled in the train that left Chennai Central at 11am."The idea came after we saw a huge crowd on a platform on Monday. The people, mainly migrant workers from West Bengal, said they could not board an overcrowded general compartment of Coromandel Express. So, we added two coaches to a Santragachi train which left at 11am the same day. We requested headquarters for permission to run this special train," said S Govindasamy, station manager, Chennai Central.The 10 coaches were ready to be dispatched to Eastern Railway after periodic overhaul. "As per rule passengers should not be boarded into new coaches being delivered to a particular railway zone. But, we got special permission for this," he added.

Several workers were taken by surprise. "I came from Farook (near Kozhikode) and reached Chennai this morning in a crowded general compartment, hoping to board a train for home. I am happy I will now be travelling comfortably. There is lot of space to sit and walk about," said Farhad.

All the workers were returning home because the farming season is round the corner. "I am not sure whether I will come back. I will work on farms for a few months at home and then go to any state in search of work. If there is work here I will come," said Abdul of Kolkata.

Most of the workers on the train are employed in parts of Kerala and Karnataka. "We always travel in general compartments because sleeper tickets are not available even if we book three months in advance," Abdul added.

There has been a surge in sale of unreserved tickets to Bahalpur, Guwahati, Gorakhpur and new Jalpaiguri. And majority of the passengers are migrant labourers.