Prolonged wait pushes commuters to stage rail roko at Palur rly station
Commuters said the trains on this stretch have been running late for the past one month during peak hours in the morning and evening
Representative image (File)
CHENNAI: Train services on the Chengalpattu-Walajabad-Kancheepuram stretch were impacted on Tuesday night following an impromptu rail roko staged by commuters at Palur railway station, flagging neglect of train schedule, leading to delays every day.
Commuters complain that the trains on this stretch have been running late for the past month during morning and evening peak hours, throwing their routines out of gear. Office-goers claim they get hit the worst as they reach home past midnight due to the delay and have to rush early the next morning, affecting their health.
On Tuesday night, the suburban train from Chennai Beach to Arakkonam
via Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, and Tirumalpur reached Palur station around 8.15 pm to make way for the Mumbai–Nagercoil Express. However, even after waiting for more than 45 minutes, the express train was yet to be seen.
Frustrated commuters alighted the train and argued with the railway staff at the station. Hundreds of them then blocked the tracks and staged a rail roko. Another group surrounded the station master's office and staged a sit-in protest.
On information, the Railway Protection Force and Government Railway Police (GRP) rushed to the spot and held talks with the passengers. The commuters alleged that suburban trains are always halted for long durations to give priority to express trains. The police promised them that steps would be taken to operate trains on time in the coming days. Following that, the protest was withdrawn around 9.30 pm, after which services resumed. Due to the rail roko, train services on the Chengalpattu-Walajabad-Kancheepuram stretch were affected for more than an hour.
