Three trains cancelled, two delayed
Bivek Mathur
JAMMU, Dec 30: The farmers’ protest in Punjab left several passengers, mostly Shri Mata Vaishno Devi yatris, stranded at Jammu Tawi Railway Station today, as both railway and road transportation routes remained affected due to the 9-hour bandh.
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While three trains departing from Jammu had to be cancelled by the railway authorities due to the protest, two were delayed from their expected departure times. Four other trains departing or reaching the Jammu Tawi Railway Station were on time.
The cancellation of the trains caused massive problems for the passengers and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi yatris in particular, who were already facing inconveniences due to the ongoing bandh in Katra, where the protestors are demanding that a proposed ropeway project between Katra and Sanjhi Chhat be shelved.
The bandh (in Katra), called by the Sangharsh Samiti, has crippled the normal life in the town, with all business establishments except hotels and restaurants closed and transport off the road.
In Punjab, Samyukta Kissan Morcha (non-political) and Kissan Mazdoor Morcha have given the call for a State-wide shutdown over the Centre not acting on the farmers’ demand for a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their crops.
The bandh was also in support of the farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on a fast-unto-death at the Khanauri border protest site in Punjab over the non-fulfillment of his demands.
Divisional Transportation Manager (DTM) Jammu Tawi Railway Station, Prateek Srivastav, told the Excelsior that three trains-Malwa Express departing from Udhampur to Indore, Swaraj Express departing from Jammu Tawi to Mumbai, and Vande Bharat, which originates from Katra to leave for Delhi-had to be cancelled in view of the farmers’ protest.
According to him, Jhelum Express, which departs for Pune Junction from Jammu Tawi, was delayed by two hours from its departure time, and Himgiri Express, which departs for Howrah Junction in Kolkata from Jammu Tawi, was delayed by four hours from its scheduled departure time.
Other trains, including Sealdah Express, Rajdhani Express, Pooja Express and Shalimar Express, either departed from or reached Jammu Tawi Railway Station on time, he said.
The road transport service was also affected in view of the farmers’ protest, leaving passengers worried.
Brij Lal Yadav, a frustrated passenger from Banaras, who returned from the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, told the Excelsior at Jammu Tawi Railway Station: “Ever since I have come to J&K with my family members, we’ve been facing one problem after another.”
“While Katra was completely shut, the police didn’t allow us to visit the hill station Patnitop, and now the train and bus services have been affected due to the farmers’ protest. We are worried whether we’ll be able to reach our homes on time to celebrate New Year with our family members,” he said.
Another yatri, Manish Kumar Gupta, from Varanasi, also expressed haplessness, claiming, “While our trains are cancelled, buses are also off the road or running late. It is getting difficult for us to stay at Jammu Tawi Railway Station in these chilly days with the limited resources we are carrying with us.”
Srivastav, however, assured that most trains running in the evening and night will depart on their scheduled time.
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