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Mumbai local live updates: Job aspirants call off protest, train services resume
Mumbai local train services have been crippled by job aspirants, leaving lakhs of commuters stranded and Central railway cancelling at least 60 trains. Demanding immediate jobs, the protesters have refused to relent despite requests from police and railway authorities.
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Railways clarifies job aspirants did not appear for any examination, says they still have time till March 31 to fill forms. READ FULL STORY
Job aspirants have called off their protest on the Central Line of Mumbai suburban local train services. The trains have started moving between Matunga and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. However, protesters are yet to vacate the site.
Here is the list of trains rescheduled today:
10103 CSMT-Madgaon Mandvi Exp (sch dep 0710 hrs) at 1000 hrs
11301 CSMT-KSR Bengaluru Udyan Exp (sch dep 0810 hrs) at 1015 hrs
12534 CSMT-Lucknow Pushpak Exp (sch dep 0825 hrs) at 1030 hrs
11029 CSMT-Kolhapur Koyna Exp (sch dep 0840 hrs) at 1045 hrs
I just had word with Railway Minister. Everyone will be given justice. Kindly consider the situation of other students who have left to give their exams today and withdraw the protest: Kirit Somaiya-
Dabbawalla service affected badly. Most of the dabbawala are stuck at Kalyan, Dombivali, Thane and Kurla station. They will not be able to deliver the food on time today.
Chief PRO of Railways, Sunil Udasi, has clarified that the protesting aspirants did not appear for any examination. He said that these protesters just pursued apprenticeship at railway workshops. They can still submit their forms till March 31, following which the examinations will be conducted.
Mumbai's Central line being the busiest, around 2 lakh commuters failed to reach their respective destinations on time following the protest.
A local railway helpline emergency number - 022-23004000 - has been issued.
Students shouting slogans against railways held placard in their hands demanding one time settlement from GM quota and said that they demand jobs from government.
"We will not budge from here until and unless Railway Minister Piyush Goyal come and meet us. Our several prayers made to DRM (Divisional Railway Manager of Mumbai Division) have failed," another student said.
"There has been no recruitment since last four years. We are struggling from pillars to post. Over 10 students have committed suicide. We cannot let such things happen," a student who was part of the protest said.
Entire four lines are affected between Matunga and CSMT. Police and railway official are having talks with them.
Government must listen to their demands and give them jobs. Their demands are justified, says Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam.
Job aspirants stall Mumbai local train services: Click here to know what the agitators are demanding
BEST runs additional buses between Kurla and Kalyan to help stranded commuters.
As many as 60 local trains from Kurla to CST have been cancelled following the agitation.
The students blocked the rail track at 7 am in the morning, forcing railway to stop the suburban as well as express train in the affected section between Matunga and CSMT.
Over 500 aspirants are protesting at the spot.
According to information available, as many as 1800 aspirants are undergoing apprenticeship across Maharashtra at present, of which 400-500 are in Mumbai itself.
The protesters are currently undergoing apprenticeship in railways with the hope of getting jobs. They are also given stipend by the railways for the same.
Several job aspirants on Tuesday staged protesting between Mumbai's Matunga and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway stations, stalling local train services in the Maharashtra capital leaving hundreds of commuters stranded. The protesters are demanding employment in Central Railways, claiming they have already cleared the examinations for the same.
The protesters stopped trains plying between Matunga and Dadar stations. Police personnel were rushed to the spot soon after the protests gained momentum. The aspirants reportedly resorted to stone pelting on the cops as they tried to stop them from protesting on railway tracks.
The aspirants claim that they have cleared the examination conducted by the Railways. The Central line of Mumbai local train network runs from Chhatrapati Shivani Terminus to Karjat and Khapoli. As many as 40 to 42 lakh commuters travel via the Central line everyday.