Maoist's economic blockade puts ECR under heavy financial loss

Patna, June 27 (UNI) The 48-hour economic blockade call by the Maoists have been putting the East Central Railways(ECR) under heavy financial loss every day, ECR sources said here today.

The sources said in every such bandh or blockade, especially by the ultras, the railway department incurs heavy financial loss as several trains are cancelled and passengers prefer to seek refund postponing their journey.

The exact tune of loss can not be disclosed as of now, they added.

The sources, however, maintained that the ECR would calculate the exact loss incurred due to the blockade call of the Maoists and admitted that it could be in crores.

They said several passengers in Danapur, Dhanbad and Mughalsarai division returned their tickets in view of the fact that trains were always a soft target of the extremists.

Meanwhile, ECR CPRO told UNI that safety and security measures adopted in view of the blockade call would continue till tonight. He said Railway Protection Force (RPF) had been deployed at sensitive pockets under the ECR. The railways had been put under extra alert and the trains were being thoroughly checked at major railway stations including Patna junction, he added.

The railway department is maintaining close vigil on the Patna-Gaya and the Quil-Gaya sections and also on the Grand Chord line.

UNI