Gujjar agitation results in heavy losses for railways

Jaipur, June 2 (UNI) North-western Railways has incurred heavy losses due to the ongoing Gujjar agitation including torching of a station master's office here.

Protestors torched the station master's office at Sanagner here late last night, damaging the train control equipment and many documents by sprinkling petrol on them. They also torched two motorcycles parked there.

Mr K L Inkya, general manager, Communications, North-Western railway, told UNI the violence has damaged at least ten signals, two station panels, five level crossings at various places in the state.

At many places in the state, the agitators have tried to uproot the railway tracks and removed plates from the tracks.

Yesterday protestors in Sawai Madhopur district tried to damage a railway bridge in Isarda Chauth Ka Barwara despite shoot-at-sight orders enforced in the district.

In Bandikui, protestors removed fishplates from the track damaging two kms of the track.

Mr Inkya said the Jaipur-Sawai Madhopur line, Jaipur-Bandikui lines have not yet been restored.

Jaipur-Ajmer and Jaipur-Bikaner-Bhatinda track have, however, been restored.

He said the estimate of losses has not been assesed as yet, but the railway authorities are in constant touch with state government to normalise the rail services.

UNI