Arrange free travel for stranded people, Debabrata Saikia appeals to CMs

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Leader of Opposition in the Assam Legislative Assembly Debabrata Saikia has written letters to various Chief Ministers (CMs) of the country appealing to them to arrange free travel for stranded people of Assam through Shramik Special trains, on Monday.

The Indian Railways will run Shramik Special trains to ferry stranded passengers.

Saikia appealed to the CMs to take necessary measures to facilitate the stranded people of Assam. The leader asserted that if the States are not being able to bear the travel expenses of the people then they can coordinate with the Assam government for a cost-sharing arrangement. "There is no clear-cut instruction from the Government of Assam regarding the cost of passengers' travel. Further, the Indian Railways have announced that tickets may be booked only online. In such a situation it is not at all possible for many stranded people, particularly cash-strapped and semi-literate labourers, to buy tickets via the Internet," said Saikia.

He requested the CMs to arrange free travel by train for the stranded people from Assam. Saikia said if the Assam government is not being able to bear the travel expenses then the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) is ready to help the stranded people travel home free of cost.

In this regard Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also appealed to all CMs of the country to facilitate the travel of the stranded people of Assam free of cost. 

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