Kurmi stir: Train services likely to remain paralysed

Jamshedpur: For the second consecutive day on Thursday, train services on Howrah-Mumbai route remained paralysed due to the Adivasi Kurmi Samaj (AKS) agitation demanding ST status for the Kurmi community and inclusion of their language in the eight schedule of the constitution.
Several AKS members have been sitting on railway tracks at Khemasoli station under Tatanagar-Kharagpur section and Kustaur station in Chandil-Sini section since April 5.

As a result, the railways on Thursday had to cancel more than 80 long and short-distance trains besides diverting four long-distance trains.
The cancelled services included over two dozen trains that originate or run via Tatanagar and Chakradharpur stations.
"The railways regrets the woes caused to the commuters due to the stir as the condition remains the same even today," said senior divisional commercial manager, Chakradharpur, Manish Pathak. The official said trains will remain cancelled even on Friday as there is no sign of the withdrawal of the agitation in the sight.
Meanwhile, commuters took to long-distance buses and some booked taxis to travel to their destinations.
"I booked tickets on a private AC bus for my wife and daughter, who travelled to Bokaro on Thursday. Earlier, I had booked a berth on Puri-New Delhi Purushottam express," said Tata Steel employee Dhananjay Kumar.
Similarly, perfume retailer Binod Gupta opted for a Patna-bound bus on Thursday due to the abrupt cancellation of Durg-Rajendranagar South Bihar express.
"I was supposed to travel on South Bihar Express but due to the cancellation of the train, I am travelling on the bus, as it is important for me to be in Patna on Saturday," he said.
Tour operator Vipul Kumar said enquiries for booking taxis have suddenly increased in the last two days due to the blockade of the train movement.
"From Thursday, I have been receiving calls for taxi booking. Some have enquired for Bilaspur, others for Muzaffarpur and Puri," said proprietor of Travel Safe.
Further, the blockade of NH-59 linking Baharagora to Kharagpur has also caused serpentine queue of the heavy vehicles.