New Delhi: After the train services got suspended in Punjab due to farmers agitation against newly enacted farm laws, the Railway Board Chairman, on Thursday, informed that Punjab government has assured Indian Railways about the complete removal of blockades along railway tracks in the state.
While addressing a virtual press conference, CRB Vinod Kumar Yadav said, “We have been assured by the Punjab Chief Secretary that all blockades will be removed. Director General of Railway Protection Force has been reviewing the situation. We will resume the services as soon as the tracks will be cleared by agitators.”
He also said that out of the 31 blockades, 14 have been cleared and rest will be removed by tomorrow. Yadav added that the only conditions for resumption of train services is that the railway tracks should be completely cleared out, and there should not be any compromise with the safety of citizens.
Amid the ongoing Kisan agitation in Punjab, a delegation of state’s BJP and Congress leaders met Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal and CRB VK Yadav. The Minister was assured that the Railway properties will be cleared, so that Railways can resume it’s passenger and freight services at the earliest.
When asked about the letter written by Chief Minister Capt Amrinder Singh to Piyush Goyal, urging him for immediate restoration of train movement while assuring him of safety, the Railway official replied that the ground situation was different from what CM had said in his letter.
“Yes it is true that CM had written a letter, but the ground situation was much different. By today’s morning, just one blockade was being removed. Until these blockades are not being removed, it is not possible to resume train services,” Yadav replied to ETV Bharat question.
The train services were being stopped in Punjab, since October 24, under “Rail Roko” agitation of farmers against the three farm laws. Due to this, Indian Railways claimed losses of nearly Rs 1200 crore in freight revenue with more than 2225 goods trains suspended and 1350 passenger trains diverted or cancelled.
