The decision of Railways to run only a handful of trains has left people of Jharkhand disappointed who after six months of rigorous lockdown were eager to move out of state to visit their friends, family or to find a job.
Now different outfits like Jharkhand Passengers Association and Jharkhand Yatri Sangh besides a number of social outfits like Jharkhand Mithila Manch and others have lodged protests over the decision of the railway.
“We have written to the railway besides the Jharkhand government to take decisions in the interest of common people. The festival season has started and people from Bihar, Bengal and other states who live in Jharkhand desperately want early resumption of train service. But contrary to this only a handful of trains have been started,” said convenor of Jharkhand Yatri Sangh, Prem Mittal.
Mittal criticized that even a handful of trains that the railway has decided to operate are being run as special trains. “We protest the decision to convert regular trains into special trains because on the name of special trains the railway is charging additional fare on the name of special trains,” he said.
Prem Kataruka, secretary of Jharkhand Passengers Association said that the decision of the railway has left them baffled. “Railway has introduced two trains for Bihar namely Patna and Jainagar ahead of Chhath festival. But these trains will only make one round trip on November 18 and 19. Can the railway explain what purpose this one round trip will fulfil? Assembly elections are going on, political parties are carrying rallies so there is no problem but when it comes to public utility like operation of trains restrictions are imposed,” said Kataruka.
Ranchi has a huge population of people from Bihar. Lockdown left people stranded. They want to return home. A large number of people lost their job. But due to lack of public transport they are unable to move-out. Life has really become miserable. Railway has cheated us,” said Manoj Kumar Mishra, president of Jharkhand Mithila Manch.
On being contacted a senior railway official could not reply satisfactorily that why a handful of trains have been allowed.
“Such decisions are taken at the ministry level. Currently 10 pairs of trains for Delhi, Bengal and Yeshvantpur are being operated as special trains. We have received memorandum from different outfits to increase the number of trains,” said the official.
Meanwhile, Jharkhand Mithila Manch has threatened to start agitation if regular trains for Bihar and other states are not operated specially Ranchi-Jainagar Express.