G.O. Ms. No. 219, COVID-19 Movement of Stranded Persons by Special Trains, 2020
The Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, issued G.O. Ms. No. 219 dated 3 May 2020 to amend the notification in G.O. Ms. No. 172 dated 25 March 2020. The amendment allows stranded migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students and other persons to travel by special trains operated by the Ministry of Railways, subject to continuing movement and safety conditions.
What the amendment does
G.O. Ms. No. 219 dated 3 May 2020, issued by the Revenue and Disaster Management Department, adds special trains as an allowed means of transport for people stranded in different places during the COVID-19 lockdown. It amends the notification issued under G.O. Ms. No. 172 dated 25 March 2020.
The amendment followed a proposal from the Principal Secretary and Commissioner of Revenue Administration. The proposal referred to the Government of India order dated 1 May 2020 concerning railway transport for stranded people.
Who is covered
G.O. Ms. No. 219 applies to the movement of:
- Migrant workers.
- Pilgrims.
- Tourists.
- Students.
- Other persons stranded in different places.
The notification permits these groups to travel by special trains operated by the Ministry of Railways.
Key requirements
G.O. Ms. No. 219 sets out the following arrangements:
- The Ministry of Railways will operate the special trains.
- The Ministry of Railways will designate nodal officers to coordinate movement with States and Union Territories.
- The Ministry of Railways will issue detailed guidelines for ticket sales.
- Social distancing and other safety measures must be observed at railway stations, on platforms and inside trains.
- The remaining movement conditions listed in Sub-clause (h), items i, ii, iii, v and vi, continue to apply to travel by special train.
The Gazette also records that Tamil Nadu had decided that relaxations notified after 20 April 2020 would not apply in the State. The guidelines in G.O. Ms. No. 172 dated 25 March 2020, together with its addendums, continued to be followed during the lockdown in line with notifications issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Relevance to property matters
G.O. Ms. No. 219 concerns COVID-19 travel arrangements for stranded persons. It does not contain provisions about land ownership, registration, planning permission, land use, property tax or building approval. Its direct effect is on eligible travellers, railway authorities and the government officers coordinating their movement.
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Common questions
Did G.O. Ms. No. 219 allow stranded people to travel by train?
Yes. It allowed stranded migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students and other persons to travel by special trains operated by the Ministry of Railways.
Who was responsible for organising the special trains?
The Ministry of Railways was to operate the trains, designate nodal officers and coordinate with States and Union Territories.
Did safety conditions still apply during the train journey?
Yes. The Ministry of Railways was to issue guidelines covering social distancing and other safety measures at stations, on platforms and inside trains. Specified existing movement conditions also continued to apply.
Does G.O. Ms. No. 219 change any Tamil Nadu land or property rule?
No land or property provision appears in the notification. It deals with the movement of stranded persons by special trains during the COVID-19 lockdown.
