Commuters resort rail roko agitation

Chennai, Aug 1 (UNI) Suburban train services from Chennai Central were badly affected till this after noon as a section of commuters resorted rail-roko agitation at suburb Korattur and Avadi, protesting against the late running of suburban trains between Chennai Central and Tiruvallur sections.

After the unruly crowd blocked a goods train, railway officials rushed to the spot to pacify them. The protestors gave up their agitation only after an assurance by officials.

Railway Passengers Association (Pattabiram) Secretary Mohanram said the officials had promised to revert to old timings on July one itself. But it had not changed the timings.

A demonstration was also held at Central railway station as a section of commuters protested against the indefinite delay of major trains, which departed only late this morning due to the derailment of two coaches of the Chennai-Jaipur Express last evening.

The restoration work of the tracks got over only after midnight.

Major trains, including Circar Express to Kakinada, the Nilgiris Express to Mettupalayam, the Alleppey Express, the Cauvery Express to Mysore and the Yercaud Express to Erode were cancelled.

In the last three days, it was the second such incident as a similar derailment occurred on Monday night when two empty coaches of the New Delhi-bound Tamilnadu Express were being brought to the station.

Due to the passenger agitation, the Chennai Central-Mangalore Express scheduled to leave Chennai Central at 1700 hrs today was rescheduled to leave at 1930 hrs, the release said.

UNI