Commuters' agitation affects Western Railway trains

Surat, July 1 (UNI) Commuters of Western Railway today vented their ire against the increase in railway fare by disrupting normal services for several hours at the Navasari railway station.

The agitators destroyed the furniture in the railway manager's cabin, burnt and threw it on the railway track besides damaging several electrical equipments at the station.

About 2,000 agitators, including hundreds of women, also attacked the fire fighters who arrived at the site to douse the flames. The police had to use mild force to disperse the mob.

The agitators also pelted stones at the New Delhi-Mumbai Rajdhani Express near Bullimora station.

The agitation was organised by the All Gujarat Passengers Association to protest the hike in railway fare besides converting 22 express trains (11 pairs) into superfast trains that run between Ahmedabad and Mumbai.

The agitation affected many trains on Ahmedabad-Mumbai route and people had to wait for hours to get a train.

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