Train Services, Suspended For 2 Months In Punjab, Normalise: Railways

Protesting farmers had blocked rail strains throughout Punjab, disrupting companies (File)

New Delhi:

Train companies in Punjab, which have been suspended for nearly two months as a result of farmers’ agitation in opposition to the three new farm legal guidelines, have normalised apart from a 32-km stretch, Chairman Railway Board VK Yadav stated Tuesday.

Train operations in Punjab have been severely affected for nearly two months after farmers, protesting in opposition to the three new farm legal guidelines, sat on railway tracks and on station premises, refusing to let trains run.

“We have had no issues in running trains in Punjab since November 23 except between Beas and Amritsar where some protestors are still present. But an alternative route is available and trains to Amritsar are being diverted through that. However, we had to cancel some trains on that route as the earlier route was double line while the diverted route is  a single line,” Mr Yadav stated at a press convention.

He additionally stated between November 23 and November 30, 94 passenger trains have entered Punjab whereas 78 have exited the state.

While 384 loaded and 273 empty freight trains entered the state, 373 loaded and 221 empty freight trains exited the state.

Pushing the state into full gear so far as commodities are involved, throughout this era out of the 384 loaded freight trains that entered, 155 carried coal, 58 carried fertilizers, 25 carried metal, 32 carried petroleum, oil and lubricants amongst others, he stated.

Of the 373 loaded trains that exited Punjab, 245 trains carried foodgrains to different components of the nation.

The Railways had earlier stated the suspension of companies have led to losses to the tune of Rs 2,220 crore.

The authorities on Tuesday expressed confidence that it’s going to attain an answer after discussing the problems raised by the protesting farmers, as a gathering between union ministers and representatives of over 30 farmers’ organisations was underway.

For the assembly at Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar was accompanied by Railways and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash, additionally an MP from Punjab.

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