Gujjar Agitation: Railways Cancel Ten Trains

New Delhi, Jun 4 (UNI) Ten long-distance trains, including Rajdhanis and Shatabdis passing through Rajasthan, were cancelled and several others diverted and rescheduled today while train movement in and around the national capital was severely hampered in the wake of the day-long 'Delhi bandh' call given by the Gujjars agitating for ST status.

Among the cancelled trains were Ajmer-New Delhi Shatabdi Express, Jaipur-Bandra Express, Jodhpur-Delhi Express, Jaipur-Amritsar Express, Jaipur-Gwalior Express, New Delhi-Ajmer Shatabdi Exp. and Bareilly-New Bhuj Express.

The two partially cancelled trains were Sawaimadhopur-Jodhpur Exp. (cancelled between Sawaimadhopur and Jaipur) and Jammu Tawi-Jaipur Exp. (cancelled between Delhi and Jaipur).

Owing to the agitation in Delhi and its neighbouring regions, three trains were diverted. These were Delhi-Jodhpur Express, New Delhi-Ahmedabad Rajdhani Exp. and Delhi Sarai Rohilla- Porbander express.

In addition, the journey of several trains was diverted. These included Bandra-Jodhpur Exp., Mumbai Central-Ajmer Exp., Ahmedabad-Haridwar Exp. and Ahmedabad-Puri Express.

A Railway Ministry official said the movement of a number of trains, including Howrah-New Delhi, Sealdah-New Delhi and Bhubaneshwar-New Delhi Rajdhani Express, had been blocked because of the agitation at places like Ajaibpur and Dadri.

The most severely hit were suburban trains (EMU and DMU), greatly inconveniencing daily passengers travelling to the national capital.

Northern Railway also announced re-scheduling and diversion of a number of trains as well as running of a special train. The trains were rescheduled or diverted on the Delhi-Rewari-Bandikul-Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur-Jaipur, Jaipur-Bandikul-Agra Fort and Agra Fort-Bayana routes.

Northern Railway, North Western Railway and North Central Railway pressed into service a few special trains for the convenience of passengers, who have been affected by the ongoing caste clashes in Rajasthan.

The official said the movement of 18 trains had to be ''controlled'' (blocked) because of the agitation in Delhi and its surburban areas.

Giving details, he said the movement of some EMU and express trains was blocked at the Ajaibpur, Wair, Chola, Sikanderpur, Sasni, Jalesar and Khurja stations.

The 2305 Howrah-New Delhi Rajdhani was blocked at Khurja from 0849 hrs and diverted via Hapur and Ghaziabad while the 2423 Dibrugarh-New Delhi Rajdhani was controlled at Daud Khan from 0852 hrs.

The movement of Gorakhpur-Benaras Express, Howrah-Delhi Express and Bhubaneshwar-New Delhi Rajdhani and four suburban trains was also severely affected.

UNI