New Delhi, Jun 18 (IANS): Keeping in view the demand and unlock in several states with the Covid cases dropping below one lakh in last 12 days, the Indian Railways on Friday said that it has given the approval to operate 660 more trains in a graded manner.

The Railway Ministry, in a statement, said that with the flattening of the coronavirus curve, Indian Railways is enhancing the number of special trains to facilitate the travelling public, to provide trains for the movement of migrant labour and to clear the waiting list in various origin destination clusters.

It said that during pre Covid, an average of about 1,768 Mail and Express trains were operating daily, and as of June 18, 983 Mail and Express trains are being operated daily which is about 56 per cent of the pre-Covid level.

The number of trains is being enhanced gradually as per demand and commercial justification, it said, adding that as on June 1, about 800 Mail and Express trains were in operation.A

"During the period June 1 to June 18, Railways has approved to operating 660 additional Mail and Express trains to the Zonal Railways," it said.

It said that Zonal Railways are advised to restore trains in a graded manner keeping in view local conditions, tickets demand situation, and Covid cases in the region.

The Railways has suspended the operation of several trains amid the second wave of Covid which struck India hard.