Chandigarh Railway Station: City Congress joins stir against pick-up & drop-off charges

Chandigarh, November 30

The city Congress today joined in the ongoing protest by the youth wing of the party against the imposition of “exorbitant” pick-up and drop-off charges at Chandigarh Railway Station.

Shouting slogans, activists of the party staged a dharna near the station. They alleged the move to impose the charges on vehicles parked on the premises for pick-up and drop-off were aimed at generating undeserved revenue. It caused unnecessary harassment of women, children and elderly persons who had to carry luggage to the parking area after de-boarding trains.

President of the city Congress HS Lucky said, “The imposition of unreasonably high pick-up and drop-off charges amounts to an organised loot by the railway authorities. The Chandigarh Congress is going to intensify its agitation if the charges are not rationalised and the unnecessary harassment of the passengers is not stopped within a week.”

The Congress leaders said due to this “difficult to implement” levy, the road leading to the station remained lined with cars and other vehicles as trains usually did not arrive on time. This was causing traffic and other problems in the area adjoining to the station.

The Chandigarh Youth Congress, led by its president Manoj Lubana, appealed to the authorities to withdraw the charges immediately.

Deipa Dubey, president of the Chandigarh Mahila Congress, threatened protest against the railway authorities if the charges were not withdrawn.