Rail services resume in Punjab; coal rakes reach Banawala thermal plant

Tribune News Service
Faridkot/Moga/Mansa, November 23

Following the decision of farmers' organisations to suspend the “Rail Roko” agitation for two weeks, the movement of goods train was resumed in Ferozpeur division on Monday.

Rajesh Kumar Aggarwal, Divisional Railway Manager, said one goods train loaded with gypsum started from Jammu today afternoon at 1400 hours and will reach Lucknow tonight. “One empty BTPN (Bogie Tank Wagon for loading of Petrol) has also started from Ferozepur to Delhi today afternoon,” said DRM.

The DRM added that following the checking of tracks throughout the night by various inspection teams, foot-to-foot checking was also done in daylight. “Following the reports, the trains were resumed,” he said.

Read also: Protesting Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee adamant on intercepting passenger trains

The DRM said the “Golden Temple Mail” from Mumbai Central to Amritsar, which was earlier being short terminated at Ambala, will come to Amritsar tonight.

Similarly, the train service from Amritsar-Haridwar will also resume from tomorrow morning. The other trains, including Ferozepur-Dhanbad Express, will also be resumed.

As per information, the other trains which will be resumed by tomorrow include Paschim Deluxe Express Covid-19 Special (02925), Saryu-Yamuna Covid-19 Special (04649), Amritsar Shatabadi Covid Special (02029), Dhanbad-Ferozepur Covid-19 Special (03307), Nagpur-Amritsar Covid-19 Special (02025), Begampura Festival Special (02237), Gorakhpur Jammu-Tawi Amarnath Festival Special (02587).

With the resumption of rail service, a train carrying coal has reached Talwandi Sabo Power Limited, Banawala, in Mansa. The arrival of the train has been confirmed by the management of the thermal plant.

Faced with an acute shortage of coal following blockage of tracks leading to power plant at Baniwala, the Talwandi Sabo Power Limited (TSPL) had to stall power production.

The farmer agitation had started taking toll on the thermal plants as farmers were agitating on the rail tracks since October 1 leading to disruption of movement of coal rakes.

Earlier, on October 26 the railways had postponed the movement of goods trains which was resumed on October 23.

The development comes two days after Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh succeeded in breaking the imbroglio over the suspension of train services in the state, with the farmer unions acceding to his appeal and announcing complete lifting of the rail blockade from November 23.

The decision to lift the rail blockade, imposed by the farmers in protest against the Centre's laws, was announced by Bharti Kissan Union (Rajewal) at a meeting with the Chief Minister.

India woke up on September 25 with farmers up in arms across the nation against the contentious Agri Bills passed in the Monsoon Session of Parliament.

17 trains to run in Punjab, J&K from Nov 24

As per Northern Railways, 17 trains in Punjab and J&K will run after a gap of nearly two months. 

The officials of the Railways said that they have drawn up a tentative plan to restore 17 mail and express trains for the Punjab region and J&K from November 24 onwards.

Bathinda: Station Superintendent, Bathinda railway station, Pradeep Sharma said, “Only one goods train moved from Bathinda railway station today that starts from Kota in Rajasthan and goes till Abohar. We do not receive any intimation regarding resuming of train services from Bathinda station from Ambala division yet, so for now the movement of all trains from Bathinda stand cancelled till further orders.”