CHENNAI: The Chennai Central railway station and roads leading to it continue to be the hub of guest workers influx, leaving authorities perplexed. Many of them from neighbouring districts are arriving at the railway station hoping that travel will be arranged for them to their natives, though they have no confirmed tickets.
A senior official with Chennai corporation said they have formed a team to fast track moving the guest workers to shelters. “The team is also supplied with information from our social media team, which tracks related developments,” the official said.
TOI had earlier reported about guest workers from as far as Tada in Andhra Pradesh walking towards Central in hopes to find a way home. Chennai being the nearest city to Tada, the workers had said they come here so they can hire private buses to reach their villages.
City corporation officials say the recent influx seems to be motivated by vested interests, in some cases, who push the guest workers towards the city. “We do not have a problem accommodating them. But there seems to be some miscommunication where the guest workers who arrive expect to be put on trains the next day,” said a senior official.
According to the official, on an average, 500-700 guest workers have been arriving at the city for the past 10 days from areas outside Chennai. So far, the civic body in co-ordination with police and railway authorities, has managed to send back 1.17 lakh people to other states in 87 trains. There are 45 shelters in the city, in which more than 3,000 others are accommodated till date.
Police personnel on the ground too are lost as to how to guide the stranded workers. “They come and complain to us that they have not eaten. It is a sad situation, but there is a communication problem,” said a police constable on duty near Central station.
“Since many of them are from villages, they believe that the collector is the highest authority and either walk towards the Chennai collector’s office on beach road, only to be redirected to the corporation headquarters. Some are even fleeced by auto drivers in the process,” said an official.
A senior official with Chennai corporation said they have formed a team to fast track moving the guest workers to shelters. “The team is also supplied with information from our social media team, which tracks related developments,” the official said.
TOI had earlier reported about guest workers from as far as Tada in Andhra Pradesh walking towards Central in hopes to find a way home. Chennai being the nearest city to Tada, the workers had said they come here so they can hire private buses to reach their villages.
City corporation officials say the recent influx seems to be motivated by vested interests, in some cases, who push the guest workers towards the city. “We do not have a problem accommodating them. But there seems to be some miscommunication where the guest workers who arrive expect to be put on trains the next day,” said a senior official.
According to the official, on an average, 500-700 guest workers have been arriving at the city for the past 10 days from areas outside Chennai. So far, the civic body in co-ordination with police and railway authorities, has managed to send back 1.17 lakh people to other states in 87 trains. There are 45 shelters in the city, in which more than 3,000 others are accommodated till date.
Police personnel on the ground too are lost as to how to guide the stranded workers. “They come and complain to us that they have not eaten. It is a sad situation, but there is a communication problem,” said a police constable on duty near Central station.
“Since many of them are from villages, they believe that the collector is the highest authority and either walk towards the Chennai collector’s office on beach road, only to be redirected to the corporation headquarters. Some are even fleeced by auto drivers in the process,” said an official.
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