Amid the dispute between the Center and the Punjab state government over allowing trains to pass through the state, Indian Railways has claimed losses of nearly Rs 1,200 crore in transportation revenue with over 2,225 suspended freight trains and 1,350 trains of canceled and diverted passengers.
Trains have been suspended in the state for more than a month starting September 25 due to turmoil over farm bills, passed by the Center during the monsoon session of parliament.
According to the data from the railways, almost 70 trains are affected per day, in total 1,373 passenger trains had to be canceled and diverted, resulting in losses of Rs 45 million due to the cancellation of passenger trains.
Protests along the railroad tracks in Punjab are still ongoing in 32 locations as the movement of trains remains suspended, the Ministry of Railways said on Wednesday.
“The agitators have continued dharna on the platforms / near the train tracks. The movement of trains was suspended again due to operational and safety considerations, as the agitators suddenly stopped some train movements and the sporadic blockade continued in several places, especially around Jandiala, Nabha, Talwandi Sabo and Bathinda, ”said a spokesperson of the Ministry of Railways.
“All passenger trains passing through the state of Punjab have also been negatively affected. To date, more than 1,350 passenger trains have been canceled, diverted or interrupted. This has caused enormous inconvenience to travelers in times of Covid, “he added.
According to the Center, all inbound and outbound freight transport, including commodities, has been negatively affected in the northern states and in Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh.
According to the Ministry of Railways, several freight trains, including loaded trains, remain stuck due to suspension for almost 15-20 days.
“Many cargo customers, having suffered business losses, are diverting to other modes of transportation. Outward cargo has also been affected from the Punjab area. The movement of food grains, containers, automobiles, cement, petroleum coke, fertilizers, etc. has been affected; The average load loss per day in Punjab is 40 rakes per day, ”the ministry spokesman said.
“Inbound traffic to Punjab has been affected (out of the Punjab area) and now containers, cement, plaster, fertilizers, POL, etc., cannot reach key locations in Punjab. In general, the average loss per day is about 30 rakes per day, ”he added.
The Center’s statement also comes on the day the Punjab CM led an MLA relief dharna in Delhi’s Rajghat after the president refused to allow time for a meeting. The CM claimed to have sought time “to highlight the state’s energy crisis and the critical situation of essential supplies” amid a dispute with the Center over the resumption of trains.
On October 26, the Minister of Railways, Piyush Goyal, had written to the Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh, requesting the Punjab government’s assurance on the safety of the trains and their crews to restore freight services, hours after that the CM asked him to intervene to resume it.
Goyal, in his letter, had alleged that sporadic road obstruction was still continuing in many places, especially around Amritsar and outside the power plants at Naba and Talwandi Saboo, and also outside the Food Corporation of India silo ( FCI) in Moga. HT has reviewed the letter.
Goyal also said that some of the empty freight trains and wagon rakes were clogged again on October 23, after which train conductors and guards refused to operate trains in Punjab unless they were assured that the trains would not will be obstructed.
Punjab’s prime minister also wrote an open letter to BJP Chairman JP Nadda on Monday seeking intervention to stop the suspension of freight trains by railways. “What is needed at this critical time is for all of us to put aside whatever temptations we may be harboring to further our political interests,” wrote the Punjab CM.
In early October, CM Singh had called on farmers to relax their ongoing “Rail Roko” protest to allow freight trains to pass. However, he had reiterated his government’s support for farmers in their fight against the land reform laws.
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