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Train services in Orissa were totally disrupted on Friday following a 24-hour rail blockade, organised by 12 Left, secular and democratic parties to protest against the step-motherly attitude of the railway ministry towards the state.
All long-distance express trains passing through the state and goods and local train movement was hit by the protest.
The stir call was given by non-Congress and non-Bharatiya Janata Party-Biju Janata Dal parties, including the Communist Party of India-Marxists, Communist Party of India, Janata Dal-Secular, OGP, Communist Party of India-Marxists Lenninist, Forward Bloc, Nationalist Congress Party and Samajwadi Party.
The stir hit train services since early morning, with all long-distance express trains on the Howrah-Madras route being stopped by protestors, who squatted on railway tracks in Puri, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Rourkela, Berhampur and Sambhalpur.
Activists of the parties did not allow the movement of goods trains at Talcher and other important mining centres.
Divisional Railway Manager of Khurda road railway division of the South Eastern Railway C K Narshimhan said that all long distance express trains, goods and local trains were hit.
The railway controller in the Khurda road railway division said that all long-distance express trains and local trains were halted at various stations in the state. Besides, goods trains were detained by the activists.
The Mumbai-Bhubaneswar Konark Expresss, Howrah-Trupati Express, Howrah-Chennai Mail, Chennai-Howrah Coromandal Express, Puri-Nizamudding Utkal Express, Howrah-Puri Express and Up and Down Falaknuma Express, Puri New Delhi Neelachal Express, Rourkela-Bhubaneswar Tapaswani Express were stopped.
Sources at the Khurda road railway division office told rediff.com that some long-distance trains would be cancelled on Friday in view of the protest.
We have no option but to cancel some trains and reschedule some long-distance trains, officials said.
CPM leader Santosh Das termed the stir a total success.
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