Fearing protests, official skips inspection at Amritsar railway station

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 14

Fearing protests by farmers against the proposed handing over of the non-core functions of the Amritsar railway station to private companies, Ashutosh Gangal, General Manager of the Northern Railways, did not visit the ARS during his annual inspection held in the region on Sunday.

Starting from the Ludhiana railway station his annual inspection concluded at the Beas railway station, which is situated over 30 km from the station.

The local railway station used to be a part of the annual inspections of the GM in past. Earlier, his visit was scheduled to be held on March 12 and the station was a part of it. However, it was postponed at the eleventh hour to March 14 and the local railway station was also excluded.

A group of farmers, seeking rollback of three farm laws, had held a protest at thestation during the visit of Rajya Sabha MP Shwait Malik there over a week ago. They had warned of protest against any attempt to privatise the local railway station. They sought a ban on any kind of move to hand over the maintenance of the ARS to private concern.

Non-core functions of the ARS are likely to be handed over to the Indian Railway Station Development Corporation (IRSDC).