Kolkata, 01st November: The West Bengal government wrote to the Eastern Railway (ER) requesting reviews to resume suburban trains daily in compliance with the COVID-19 regulations.
“GOWB (Government of West Bengal) is concerned to see the use of unquiet means to disperse passengers in need at railway platforms and has written a letter to railway authorities for discussions towards plying of a few pairs of trains in the morning and afternoon hours for general commuters at large in observance of physical distancing norms and public health protocol,” tweeted the State Home Department.
…..in the morning and afternoon hours for general commuters at large on observance of physical distancing norms and public health protocol. Letter attached(2/2) pic.twitter.com/u953BuA7Z7
— HOME DEPARTMENT – GOVT. OF WEST BENGAL (@HomeBengal) October 31, 2020
The move came after a large crowd of commuters at Howrah station tried to rush into a train meant for Railways staff on Saturday evening. As the situation escalated, RPF resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the crowd, injuring many.
After the incident, Home Secretary H K Dwivedi wrote a letter to the Eastern Railway and termed the lathi charge “deplorable”.
“It is painful to notice that you are running these trains for your staff only, while many other sections of governmental service providers and members of society at large are denied these services. We are anguished that your Central forces have used coercive means to deal with members of the public today at railway stations which is deplorable,” read the letter.
Before Durga Puja, BJP MPs Swapan Dasgupta and MP Locket Chatterjee had sent a letter to Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal seeking resumption of suburban trains.
(Internet Inputs)