Women passengers in Sealdah-Bongaon section today obstructed train services demanding more coaches for women in the Matribhoomi local train in the section.
"Train services in Sealdah-Bangaon section were affected today as a section of women passengers obstructed train movements at different stations in this section demanding more coaches exclusively for the lady passengers in Matribhoomi local train," Eastern Railway sources said.
Women passengers obstructed train services at Bamangachi, Barasat, Hridaypur, Duttapukur, Birati and Bisarpara stations for different durations from 8.25 am to 1.15 pm demanding that Matribhoomi ladies special local train in this section be run exclusively for women as has been the practise since inception.
As result of the agitation, 15 pairs of EMU locals had to be cancelled and 14 EMU locals were delayed enroute for long duration, ER sources said.
Ten special trains were run in the section for different destinations during the period of obstruction to clear the stranded passengers, the sources said.
Normal train services in the section resumed at 1.15 pm, when all the obstructions were withdrawn.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had introduced Matribhoomi EMU train services exclusively for women daily commuters in rush hours during her tenure as railway minister.
ER had decided to allow male passengers in a few compartments of Matribhoomi EMU locals run in different sections of the railway.
But Eastern Railway had yesterday put on hold its decision to allow male passengers in a few compartments of Sealdah-Ranaghat-Sealdah Matribhoomi Ladies' special EMU local train after Monday's day-long face-off between women and men passengers.
