Passengers miss train, stage protest at rly station

Kolkata: Passengers of Bandel-Katwa local agitated and put up a blockade at Bandel rail station for missing the train as it commenced on time.

On Thursday, this incident caused tremendous harassment for other passengers.

According to sources, several office-goers and other daily commuters of Bandel-Katwa section used to reach Bandel station on Burdwan local.

Following that they used to board the Bandel-Katwa local to reach their destinations. It is alleged that though the Bandel-Katwa local is scheduled to commence at 8:10 am, it regularly starts late, around 8:22 am.

Sources informed that passengers had earlier requested the Eastern Railway authority to change the train timings. But the request was denied as it could not be done locally if not granted by the concerned authority. But unofficially the train used to start late.

According to the passengers, as the said local train is vary fast, it helps them to reach their destination fast. On Thursday when passengers found that the train had left Bandel at 8:12 am, which is close to its schedule time, passengers became agitated. The station master at Bandel rail station was gheraoed.

Later passengers put up a blockade which obstructed normal movement of other trains. Later Bandel Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel intervened and succeeded to convince the daily commuters to withdraw the blockade.