Chandigarh, May 16 (IANS): By facilitating the return of more than 180,000 migrant workers to their home states through 150 special trains, the Punjab government on Saturday said it ensured those wishing to go back were united with their families without any hardship.

"The state has been working round-the-clock to provide relief and succour to our guest workers as per the directions of the Chief Minister", Nodal Officer Vikas Pratap said, adding the task was being accomplished with the collaboration of Deputy Commissioners and the railway authorities of Ferozpur and Ambala divisions.

The exercise has so far cost the exchequer Rs 10 crore. The state government planned to send over 200 trains in the next 10 days and the numbers would increase in the future at the maximum possible extent, Partap said.

Out of total 150, maximum trains (57) have gone from Ludhiana with another 45 trains from Jalandhar have taken migrants to different parts of the country.

Other places from where trains have departed include Amritsar, Patiala, Mohali, Bathinda, Ferozepur and Sirhind.

The maximum trains are going to Uttar Pradesh followed by Bihar and Jharkhand.

The state government is also sending trains to Chhattisgarh, Manipur, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh.