Commuters block Sealdah-Bangaon route over Majerhat local delays, police lathi charge

Commuters on the Sealdah-Bangaon branch faced significant delays and disruptions Friday morning after a passenger-led blockade halted all train movement on this vital route. At 7:30 a.m., a group of frustrated passengers staged a protest at Ashoknagar Station, blocking the Down Majerhat local and bringing rail traffic to a standstill.

The protesters cited long-standing grievances with the Majerhat local’s irregular service, claiming that the train often does not reach Majerhat, stopping unpredictably at stations like Barasat or Kolkata. As these issues persisted, passengers, who depend heavily on reliable train services for daily travel, decided to take action in hopes of prompting a solution.

The blockade cut off communication on both the up and down lines of the Sealdah-Bangaon route, affecting countless passengers and leading to delays as trains backed up in long lines. The Sealdah Division local train network serves a large commuter base from Kolkata and the surrounding districts, including the two 24 Parganas, and is essential for office-goers, students, and vendors who rely on these trains to reach their destinations.

Due to the blockade, train services came to a halt for about 2 hours following which the police resorted to lathi charge to remove the crowd.

This protest follows a similar blockade just days ago at Phuleshwar station on the South Eastern Railway’s Kharagpur branch, where passengers had voiced frustration over frequent delays affecting local services. These recent protests highlight the growing unrest among daily commuters who rely on punctual train services during peak hours.