New Delhi, May 18 (IANS): Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday spoke to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to discuss the issue of increasing the number of Shramik Special train services to transport the stranded migrant workers willing to return to their native places.

Goyal took to Twitter and in a series of tweets said, "Spoke to Yogi Adityanath about the transportation of migrant workers. And I am glad that he has approved to double the operations of Shramik Special trains for migrant workers. He is serious to ensure the safe return of migrant workers to their homes."

"Had a fruitful discussion with Nitish Kumar, during which he gave the nod to operate 50 Shramik Special trains per day to transport the stranded migrant workers."

His remarks came in the wake of railways efforts to ensure the return of stranded migrant workers across the country.

The national transporter has started to run Shramik Special trains from May 1 and till date it has operated over 1,350 trains and transported over 17 lakh people across the country.

The Railway Minister also said that in view of the cyclone Amphan, the national transporter is unable to operate Shramik Special trains in the coastal regions of Odisha.

"After super cyclone Amphan, railways will operate more Shramik Special trains for Odisha," he said.

On Monday, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a cyclone alert for West Bengal and north Odisha coasts as an extremely severe cyclonic storm 'Amphan' was over the central parts of the south Bay of Bengal and adjoining central Bay of Bengal.

Besides Odisha, a warning has also been issued for West Bengal, Sikkim and Meghalaya till Thursday.