Railway cancels 22 extra trains serving Chhattisgarh, CM Baghel’s plea go “unheeded”

Express News Service

RAIPUR: Congress-ruled Bhupesh authorities is peeved of getting ignored because the Indian Railways not simply “turned a blind eye” to the state’s plea to renew 10 particular passenger trains however as an alternative went forward cancelling 22 extra trains that both originate or move via Chhattisgarh state.

Early this month the Railways determined to droop the operation of 10 particular passenger trains affecting the commuters of Chhattisgarh following which the chief minister Bhupesh Baghel expressed his sturdy displeasure.

The Congress leaders mentioned that it was on the eve of Navratri pageant the ten trains have been suspended main to very large issues confronted by the devotees throughout the festive season. “It exposed BJP’s ideology that claims to promote values of Hindu religion. Now surprisingly again 22 trains were cancelled. Centre is insensitive to the ordeal faced by the worshippers, students, commuters who travel mostly by train daily”, averred RP Singh Congress spokesperson.

On the CM’s route then further chief secretary (ACS) Subrat Sahoo on April 5 wrote to the chairman and chief govt officer of the Railway Board searching for resumption of those trains narrating the issues confronted by the commuters.

However, the Board as an alternative of heeding to the request had additional cancelled one other 22 passenger trains together with round a dozen long-distance mails and specific. Six out of twenty-two originate from Chhattisgarh state. Sahoo once more shot a letter to the Board to cancel the order issued by the principal chief operations supervisor (SECR) saying that the “state’s request was being ignored”.

“Such decisions are absolutely anti-people”, mentioned CM Baghel.

“We got the order from the Railway Board. Another twenty-two passenger trains have been cancelled from April 24 for a month. No reason specified by the Board”, Saket Ranjan, chief public relations officer, SECR zone, informed this newspaper.

The ruling Congress are exasperated citing two causes: the Railways apparently ignored the plea of the Chhattisgarh authorities and not one of the 9 BJP Lok Sabha MPs (out 11 LS members within the state) raised the priority earlier than the Centre.

The state BJP leaders although admitted the cancellation of trains will result in issues for the individuals. “Trains shouldn’t have been cancelled during the marriage season and summer vacation”, mentioned Sunil Soni, Raipur BJP MP.

“The party leaders intend to discuss the issue with the railway minister. When it comes to people’s welfare or public interest, it’s the priority that matters for us more than the party. We will take up the issue”, said Dharamlal Kaushik, Chhattisgarh’s chief of opposition.

“A major chunk of the passengers in the state belong to the middle and lower class, who reach their destination every day while travelling by the cancelled trains”, said the letter written by ACS asking the Board to right away restart the operation of trains.