7 injured in protest over local train route in West Bengal
Times of India | 15 November 2024
KOLKATA: Protests over the shortening of the local train route turned violent at Ashoknagar on the Sealdah-Bongaon section, leaving at least seven people, including railway police personnel, injured in clashes between police and passengers who had blocked the railway tracks on Friday morning.
Thousands of commuters faced severe hardship during peak office hours, with trains stalled at the entrance of several stations from 8am and railway gates remaining closed, leading to massive traffic jams on Jessore Road.
According to local sources, every morning, a train runs from Bongaon to Tala railway station, Kolkata, serving as a lifeline for residents of remote areas of Bongaon Subdivision along the route to reach R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital.
"The trouble broke out on Friday morning after an announcement was made that the train would terminate at Barasat instead. This sparked outrage among daily commuters, who claim that the route of this local train is frequently shortened, causing significant inconvenience. In protest, an agitation was staged at Ashoknagar railway station while the hundreds of railway passengers squatted on the track," a local trader said.
According to railway police sources, around 8am, on Friday the down Maijherhat local got blocked at the entrance of Ashoknagar railway station. "As a result, it was halted just before entering the station. Trains on the up line also came to a standstill one after another. Meanwhile, since the train was stopped at the entrance to Ashoknagar, the railway gate could not be opened, causing severe traffic congestion on Jessore Road," a senior GRP officer of Bongaon section said.
Altogether, the situation in Ashoknagar became chaotic, and daily commuters suffered due to the massive disruption.
The blockade at Ashoknagar was, however, lifted around 10 a.m., after which trains started moving again.