Restore railway services in Punjab, Capt Amarinder Singh urges Piyush Goyal

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 26

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has sought the personal intervention of Union Railways Minister Piyush Goyal for the immediate restoration of the freight movement, which remains suspended in and through the state even after the farmers’ decision to partially lift their blockade.

The Chief Minister spoke to the Union Minister on Monday in the light of the decision of the Railways to extend the ban on the movement of goods trains, initially imposed for two days (on October 24 and 25), by another four days.

Citing the grave impact of the non-restoration of freight traffic by the Railways, the Chief Minister also wrote to Goyal expressing concern that if the freight movement was not started immediately, “not only will Punjab face serious disruption in economic activities and shortage of essential supplies, but Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Leh and Ladakh will also face serious economic crisis.” He cited various requests received by the state government from different quarters, including Central ministries and departments, for immediate resumption of freight movement through the state.

Earlier, the state government had succeeded in convincing the farmer unions to allow the partial resumption of services with withdrawal of their blockade from October 22. However, after the restoration of movement of freight trains on October 23, the Railways unilaterally stopped the movement of all freight trains in the state, Captain Amarinder pointed out in his letter to Goyal.

The Chief Minister asserted the freight train service had continued almost without pause throughout the lockdown period even when the passenger trains operations were completely stopped.

Later, on the Chief Minister’s directives, Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan also spoke to the Chairman, Railway Board, and noted that the CM had set up a committee of three ministers to discuss complete lifting of their ‘rail roko’ blockade to allow even passenger trains.