Kochi: Irked by frequent late running of trains, various passenger associations have embarked on a novel protest. They plan to send bulk SMSes and make multiple phone calls to officers concerned in charge of trains operations. Though the Railways had cited urgent track repairing and renovation works as the reason for the inordinate delays, commuters claim that the authorities are extending target dates for completion of such works. The work is now scheduled to complete by mid-2019.
"The track repairing works are progressing at a tardy pace. The works have started one-and-a-half years back and only 40 per cent of the works have been completed till now. Also the works are being done at piece meal basis rather than completing an entire section, say Thrissur-Ernakulam," said Edapally Railway Passengers Association secretary R.D. Manikandan. As a mark of protest against the "irresponsible attitude" of Railway authorities, the commuters will send SMSes and WhatsApp messages to top officers in charge of train operations, from coming Thursday.
Daily commuters in the Ernakulam-Thrissur section had threatened to carry out a black bandage protest some months back, after which the Railway authorities promised that peak-hour passenger trains would stick to their schedules. "For nearly two months, trains ran on time. But things have now become worse with frequent delays of up to two hours. This affects office goers in the section, many of whom have started depending on buses. The women and elderly persons too bear the brunt of such delays," said Joy Madassery, a resident of Chalakudy who travels daily to Ernakulam for work.
"We're not against the Railways' initiative to ensure safety. The union railway minister had given a direction in this regard to all divisions. However, the authorities should also consider hardships faced by daily commuters for months together and should complete the track renovation works timely by deploying more personnel on a war footing," said All Kerala Railway Users Association president Paul K.J. Manvettom.
