Balasore: A DMU passenger train was detained for more than 2 hours at a station in Odisha’s Jajpur district on Monday due to rail roko staged by the locals demanding more compartments in the train.
As per reports, the regular train commuters sat on train tracks at Dulakh Patna station on Jajpur-Balasore border in the morning to press their demands. They contended that after the DMU train, which was running between Bhadrak and Bhubaneswar, has been used by more passengers after it was extended to Balasore. But the Railwy authorities have not increased the passenger capacity of the train accordingly.
The also alleged that the Indian Railways was charging the fare of Express train from the passengers travelling in the DMU Passenger train due to COVID restrictions. Though the restrictions have been withdrawn since long, the passengers continue to pay the Express fare, they added.
Even as the DMU train arrived at the station while the rail roko was going on, the agitators did not withdraw their dharna. After the train was detained at the station for more than 2 hours, the Railway authorities arrived at the spot and held a discussion with the protesting commuters.
Following assurance by the Railway officials of looking into their demands during the discussion, the agitating people withdrew the dharna. But they threatened that they would again resort to agitation, if their demands are not fulfilled within a week.
