Ambala: As many as 73 trains on the Ambala-Amritsar route were cancelled as farmers continued to squat on tracks at the Shambhu railway station in Punjab's Patiala district for the fifth day, officials said.
The protestors have been demanding the release of three farmers arrested by the Haryana Police during the ongoing stir. A total of 73 trains were cancelled on Sunday, the railway officials said.
The cancellation of trains over the last five days was causing financial losses, besides inconveniencing passengers, they said. Many trains were also being diverted due to the farmers' protest, they added. The farmers have been protesting under the banner of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) in Patiala district's Shambhu.
Farm leaders said the protest will continue until the three farmers are released. Farmers’ stir also hits goods train traffic on eastern freight corridor
Though farmers have not blocked the tracks of the freight corridor, taking precautionary measures as the rail lines of the freight corridor are just about 25 metre away from the blocked site, goods trains have also been stopped on this section under the Ambala unit of Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL).
The 182-km Pilkhani-Sahnewal section of the corridor was inaugurated last month. At least 40 goods trains a day were being operated on this route. Due to the agitation, around 100 km section of the 175 km main line is lying unused between Kalanaur to Sarai Banjara and the remaining 75 km section is being used.
An official said during a previous agitation when farmers had blocked the tracks of Northern Railway, some protesters had come on the tracks of the freight corridor too after spotting a goods train. He said, “To avoid such a situation, it has been decided to keep the traffic suspended on the route and use alternative routes to operate goods trains.”
Meanwhile, the passenger train traffic remains affected with cancellations, diversions and short termination of trains. Mandeep Singh Bhatia, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Ambala Division, said, “Around 115 trains were affected due to the agitation. All efforts are being made to reduce train cancellations and keep trains operational through diverted routes to minimise inconvenience to passengers.”
