Odisha to bring home Odia migrant workers stranded in Gujarat

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government has decided to bring back Odia migrant workers who are currently stranded in Gujarat due to nationwide lockdown for coronavirus outbreak.

The significant decision was taken after a video conferencing meeting between Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik and Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also participated in the meeting.

As per the decision, a coordination committee comprising two senior officers of each state will be formed for facilitating safe return of the workers. Most of the workers will be brought back to Odisha in buses, official sources said, adding that decision over using other modes of transportation will be taken after a review.

It was also decided that state governments of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh will be requested to exempt road tax for buses to used for this purpose.