Public protests have been identified as the culprit in the cancellation of 139 trains and delay in 275 rail services of the Central Railway from April 16, 2016, to January 17, 2017.
Sharp rise
In stark contrast, public protests caused only 11 cancellations and 98 delays from April 2015 to January 2016. Ravindra Goyal, Divisional Railway Manager, Central Railway, said, “This is an issue of serious concern. We are trying our best to reduce such delays.” The maximum number of cancellations were 59 in August 2016, followed by 44 in December 2016 and 36 in January 2017. The maximum number of delays (101) were also in August 2016 followed by 93 in January 2017 and 81 in December 2016. In June 2015, there were 98 delays and 11 cancellations.
Protest over train delays
Ironically, on August 12, 2016, train services were disrupted between Karjat and Ambernath for 30 minutes because passengers at Badlapur railway station held a protest against regular train delays. A senior railway official said, “The agitation went out of control and protesters sat on the tracks to express their anger against railway authorities. Such protesters do not spare a thought for passengers who rely on the service in case of emergency and to get to work on time.”
So far this year, there have been three public agitations. On January 12, protesters halted trains at Dombivli station after railway authorities demolished an illegal construction alongside the railway tracks in Kopar. A week later on January 19, angry slum dwellers staged a protest at Titwala railway station after the Kalyan Dombivili Municipal Corporation demolished illegal dwellings in Indira Nagar slum.
Protesters arrested
In the most recent case, on February 13, train services were stopped for nearly 20 minutes on the Central Line after another demolition of illegal structures sparked off a protest. Nearly 100 women vented their anger by protesting on the tracks. The Railway Protection Force has arrested 24 women and two men for protesting and booked them under Sections 147 and 174 (a) of The Railways Act.
