Protest against rail exam fee hike disrupts train services

KOLKATA: Train services on the Sealdah-Barrackpore Section of Eastern Railway's Sealdah Division were disrupted from 4:10 p.m on Monday, after a group of students obstructed train movement at Agarpara Station, in protest against escalation of fees for different recruitment examinations to be conducted by Railway Recruitment Board.

Normal train services resumed at 6:42 p.m with lifting of the obstruction. As a result, 9 EMU trains (5 up and 4 down) were detained for 25 minutes each on an average and 1 EMU local had to be cancelled.

It is stated that for non-exempted candidates who have to pay Rs 500 as examination fees, Rs 400 will be refunded if they appear for the examination. Exempted categories like SC/ST/DIVYANG/Ex-Servicemen/women/minorities/economically backward classes will be charged

Rs 250 only.

The whole of the amount will be refunded to the candidates from these categories, who appear for the examinations. The fees will ensure that only serious candidates appear for the examination.

It is further stated that nearly one lakh posts in different categories of Group C, Level 1 (erstwhile Group D) and Level 2 categories are to be filled up by Indian Railways, which is the world's largest recruitment process, initiated by Ministry of Railways.