GUWAHATI, Oct 14 - Increasing numbers of �Rail Roko� agitations being carried out by various groups have been causing huge losses to public and the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR).
In the current year, from January to the end of September, a total of 78 mail express trains have been blocked by picketers at different stations all over the jurisdiction of NFR, said an official statement.
�Since the movement of trains is planned along certain traffic corridors and movement of one train has a bearing on other trains plying ahead of and after it, the blockade of one train disrupts a large number of passenger and goods trains in that section. The after-effect of such blockades lasts for many days after the agitations are called off, as crucial activities like rake maintenance, crew planning, rake planning also get hampered,� it said.
�Trains originating in NFR, which are delayed due to agitations, are also accorded low priority as far as path allotment is concerned, when they travel through other railways, resulting in the trains losing punctuality all along the journey path.�
The NF Railway said that the rail roko agitations lead to much inconvenience to passengers, especially aged people travelling for medical treatment, women travelling with children, students travelling for admissions, job interviews, etc.
�Delay in the movement of goods trains leads to damage to perishables like potatoes, and in extreme cases, also lead to scarcity of essential items in markets, again adding to the woes of common people,� it said.
