^{Image Source: The Quint}

Bengaluru: The state government, on Wednesday, May 6, cancelled the train services that it had arranged to transport the migrant workers back to their native places.

The development comes hours after Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa met with builders and contractors on Tuesday evening.

Just two days ago, the state government had assured that they would arrange for transport facilities for the migrant labourers to travel to their home towns. After the meeting with the builders and contractors, the Revenue Department wrote to the South Western Railways seeking cancellation of 10 train (two trains per day for five days) services it had requested earlier.

The revenue department explained that the request was being withdrawn “since the train services are not required from tomorrow”. There was no explanation given for the sudden withdrawal of the request.

According to a report by DH, a senior official who was present at the meeting said that the government cancelled the train services after the builders expressed that it would be difficult to restart the construction activities without the workers, most of whom are migrants.

The source said that the builders assured the government that the workers would be taken care of. He added that the workers wanted to return home as they had no jobs. “Now that the work is set to begin, they will stay,” the source said.

Some labourers, however, told DH that they did not want to continue working. One migrant labourer said that he was even willing to forgo his salary to go home.

Activists have condemned the government’s decision to cancel the train services for the migrants calling the move “a great injustice”.