New Delhi, June 9 (IANS): As the Supreme Court on Tuesday asked states to send migrant workers back to their native places within 15 days, the Indian Railways said it could provide the Shramik special trains within 24 hours of the receipt of request from state governments.

"Indian Railways is committed to continue providing comfortable and safe movement of migrants through Shramik special trains as required by states," a Railway Ministry spokesperson said, here on Tuesday.

The railways has operated more than 4,347 Shramik special trains and ferried over 60 lakh migrant workers to their destination states since May 1.

"The Railway Ministry has requested the state governments to indicate their requirements about Shramik special trains and see that projected demand for movement of residual persons by the rail mode is well chalked out," he said.

The Ministry stated this after the Supreme Court during the day issued a slew of directions to states and Union Territories to send the migrant workers back to their native places within 15 days, provide all benefits to them and submit schemes to generate employment for them.

The governments' were also asked to withdraw cases against migrant workers for violating lockdown orders.

The spokesperson said Railway Board Chairman V.K. Yadav had written to states/UTs on May 29 and June 3 to stress that desired number of Shramik special trains would be provided within 24 hours of making of the request.

"Today too a letter has been sent to the Chief Secretaries emphasizing this," he said. "It will also meet any additional demand that may arise over and above the projections given, at a short notice," he said.