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ECoR for tough measures to curb rail roko agitations

BHUBANESWAR: Finding it difficult to cope with the problem arising out of frequent rail roko agitations, the authorities of the East Coast Railway have underlined the need for an all-round resolve to curb such incidents.

While requesting the agitators not to indulge in stopping trains to highlight their demands, the railway authorities have also said that strong action by law and order agencies are required to deal with the problem.

“East Coast Railway is facing problems due to frequent rail roko agitations in the recent past. More than 20 major rail roko agitations have taken place since January this year,” the authorities said in a statement.

Citing some agitations, they said that the main victims of such hapless situations were senior citizens, serious patients going for medical treatment and examinees going to attend entrance examinations and interviews.

“These agitations are avoidable and yield no practical result for the agitators but passengers suffer a lot. Besides, there is a huge loss of national revenue since trains carrying coal and other minerals are also badly held up thus affecting the supply of raw material to power houses which are already suffering at a critical point,” they said.

Each engine of a train detained for an hour costs the nation more than Rs. 8,000, excluding the social and manpower costs involved, they have pointed out.

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