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Rail roko throws traffic on Howrah-Madras route out of gear

M I Khan in Bhubaneswar

A rail-roko agitation by Congress workers in Orissa threw traffic on the Howrah-Madras route out of gear on Tuesday. The Congress workers were protesting against lack of development initiatives by the Union Railway Ministry in Orissa.

Trains, both long-distance express and short-haul passenger services - were stopped by angry protestors all over the state.

"All long-distance express trains going either to Chennai or Howrah have been stopped by Congress workers at different railway stations in the state," said a Khurda Road Railway Division spokesman.

The agitators also obstructed movement of goods trains from the Talcher coal fields.

The Puri-New Delhi Neelachal Express did not start its journey this morning and sources said the train may be eventually rescheduled or cancelled.

Coromondal-Howrah Express, on its way to Calcutta, was stopped at the Cuttack railway station, while the East Coast Express, destination Calcutta, was stranded at the Khurda Road railway station when reports last came in.

Other important trains affected by the rail roko were: the Delhi-Puri Purshottam Express stopped at Cuttack; Utkal Express stopped at Cuttack; Konark Express stopped at Khurda Road; Madras Mail stopped at Balugaon; Howrah-Puri Express stopped at Bhubaneswar, Faluknuma Express stopped at Palasa; Hirakhand Express stopped at Nirakharpur; and Howrah-Tirupati Express stopped at Bhadrak.

Local passenger trains too were stopped at Puri, Berhampur, Cuttack and Bhadrak railway stations by the agitators.

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