Bhubaneswar, Sep 8 (IANS): Union Petroleum and Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has requested Railway Minister Piyush Goyal for the resumption of Shramik Special train services from Odisha to other states to facilitate the return of migrant workers to their workplaces.

In a letter released to media on Tuesday, Pradhan sought personal intervention of Goyal to restart Shramik Special trains to states like Gujarat, Karnataka and Maharashtra at the earliest.

"As we resume our path to normalcy with the lifting of the nationwide lockdown, there is a need to resume rail services for migrant workers back to their workplaces," said the Petroleum Minister.

He said these workers have highlighted their plight due to unavailability of livelihood options and difficulty in travelling back to their workplace for rejoining work.

Pradhan said that even though some employers are willing to offer bus transport service from Odisha, due to the prevailing monsoon conditions, a long and arduous journey via road is neither feasible nor safe for such long distances.

"Keeping in mind the need to reignite our economy and the plight of migrant workers in Odisha who are in urgent need of livelihood, I request your personal intervention for restarting of Shramik Special trains from Odisha to States like Gujarat, Karnataka and Maharashtra at earliest," the Minister urged.