nKeralites settled in Chhattisgarh have demanded the urgent restoration of at least one round trip of a train service to carry stranded persons between Chhattisgarh and Kerala.
Appreciating Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel"s efforts to bring back those stranded in other states, All India Malayalee Association President Vinod Pillai underlined the plight of stranded Keralites in the state after the Covid-19 national lockdown was declared in March-end.
Pillai told Baghel in a letter that the Keralites have no means of returning to their state.
Similarly, a large number of residents of Chhattisgarh are stranded in Kerala including those undergoing medication, students, government employees including medical and paramedical staff, migrant workers and officials on short business visit.
Pillai said the two states were connected earlier with three sets of regular trains: Korba-TVS-Korba Express, Bilaspur-Ernakulam-Bilaspur and Bilaspur-TEN-Bilaspur. All were suspended with the imposition of the nationwide lockdown to check the spread of the pandemic.
He said the guidelines for the fourth phase of lockdown commencing from Monday makes it clear that the consent of various states is needed for inter-state movement of passenger vehicles and buses.
Pillai urged Baghel to preferably restore one round trip of the Korba-Thiruvananthpuram-Korba Express to carry the stranded persons between Chhattisgarh and Kerala.
Backing the demand, Raipur City (North) MLA Kuldeep Juneja has written to the Chief Minister.