SIVAKASI Chennai-bound Pothigai Express was detained for 30 minutes at Sivakasi railway station on Monday night after passengers blocked the train protesting against railway trade union members, who were going to Chennai to attend meetings, “reserving” an unreserved coach exclusively for themselves.
The train that was scheduled to leave the station at 8.30 pm. could leave only at 9 p.m. after officials convinced Southern Railway Mazdoor Union (SRMU) to let passengers board the general compartment in the front portion of the rake.
Pothigai Express, the only train connecting Shencottah with Chennai, is usually crowded during summer vacation as it has got only three general compartments.
The 20-odd SRMU members had locked the coach from inside and claimed that many other members would board the train at different stations en route to Chennai. However, passengers who could not find enough space even to step into other unreserved coaches cried foul.
The discontent brewing among the passengers right from Shencottah railway station took a serious turn at Sivakasi station when scores of passengers squatted on the track demanding opening of the doors of the general coach.
After the railway officials pacified them, the railwaymen let the passengers board the coach and the train left. Within no time, the entire coach was occupied by scores of passengers.
An SRMU leader said the railway officials had earmarked one of the existing general second class compartments for recognised union members, instead of allotting an additional coach for them, as the train was being run with the maximum number of coaches.
“The officials have issued circular for provision of the coaches in other trains too for May 15 and 16 and in the return direction on May 16 and 17,” he added.
