RailEnquiry

Mumbai's suburban rail services are likely to be hit on February 20 and 21 as agitators participating in the 'Bharat bandh' called by trade unions may stage a 'satyagraha' on tracks and at stations.But senior railway officers said train services will operate as per schedule. "If there is any attempt to disrupt services, the railway police will take stern action. We will not allow trains to come to a halt," said an officer.Those who commute by road may have problems too. Hind Mazdoor Sabha president Sharad Rao said on Wednesday that autos, and BEST and state buses will be off roads. "There will be no public transport available on the two days."But taxi union leader A L Quadros is opposed to the bandh. He said black-and-yellow taxis and cool cabs will run as usual. "We are not scared of Rao. Nor do we support the industrial strike."The supply of fruits and vegetables is likely to be hit. Rao said hawkers will not be on the roads, shops will down shutters and BMC workers will not come to work. "There will be exceptions-water supply mains will be kept open, milk supplies may not be hit, and ambulance and fire-fighting services will be allowed to operate in emergencies. But every other activity in the city will come to a standstill."About rail services, he said, "Railway unions will support our cause." He did not elaborate.He said aviation employees and airport taximen, too, will participate in the stir. "Also, BMC conservancy workers will not work and there are chances of garbage being piled up across Mumbai. Retail and wholesale traders, medicine shop owners, cloth shop owners and jewellers' associations will also extend support to our bandh and will shut shop for two days.

"We advise citizens not to step out of home on these days and stock up on vegetables and other essential goods as these will not be available in the market."

BEST general manager O P Gupta said it was premature to comment. "I will gauge the situation and find out how many unions or workers are participating in the bandh. We will take a call accordingly and issue a public advisory."

During the last agitation called by Rao, Gupta had warned that drivers abstaining from duty may lose a day's salary.

Western Railway spokesperson Sharat Chandrayan said the department will ensure that trains run as per schedule. "We will have adequate bandobast at stations and at vital locations on tracks."

Viren Shah, president, Federation of Retail Traders' Welfare Association, said, "We represent a huge community of shopkeepers and traders in Mumbai. We do not support the bandh call. Maybe some shopkeepers and traders have affiliations with Rao's union. But the majority of shops will remain open on both days."

Fewer autos today as drivers go on morcha

You can expect a shortage of autos in some parts of the suburbs as 15,000 auto drivers led by union leader Sharad Rao will participate in a rally till the transport commissioner's office in Bandra (East) on Thursday. A similar morcha will be taken out by taxi unions, led by A L Quadros, on Saturday.

Thursday's morcha may cause snarl-ups on the Western Express Highway and also on lanes close to the transport commissioner's office in the collector's building.

The major demand is the release of new auto permits. TOI had recently written that the state government was keen on releasing more than 30,000 dead permits for autos.

"The union should not take out a rally or go on strike. We are in the process of issuing new permits," said a senior official from Mantralaya.