PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Sept 21: Rail traffic on the busy Howrah–Mumbai main line returned to normal on Sunday morning after the Kurmi agitation, which had disrupted services for several days, was called off.
The protest, driven by demands for Scheduled Tribe status and constitutional recognition of the Kurmali language, had brought both passenger and freight movement to a halt across large parts of eastern India.
Tracks Cleared, Operations Resume
At around 6:50 a.m., protesters were removed from the Tatanagar–Rourkela section. After a safety inspection, completed by 7:30 a.m., the first freight train was cleared to move at 7:40 a.m. Passenger trains resumed service shortly after, with the first departure at 8:29 a.m.
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Long-Distance Trains Back in Service
Railway officials confirmed that several key trains, including the Geetanjali Express, Ahmedabad–Howrah Express, Shirdi–Howrah Express, and Ispat Express, were allowed to run via Rourkela, Chakradharpur, Sini, Gamharia, Sonua, and Tatanagar.
Disruption Left Thousands Stranded
The agitation had forced the cancellation of more than two dozen trains from Tatanagar alone, such as the Patna–Bilaspur Express, Ara–Durg South Bihar Express, and Jaynagar Express. Thousands of passengers traveling to Jharkhand, Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Uttar Pradesh were left stranded or had to switch to road transport. Freight services also remained heavily restricted for most of the week.
Railway Officials Confirm Normalcy
Officials of the Chakradharpur Division stated that services are now running on schedule and operations have stabilized. Extra security personnel and passenger help desks have been deployed at stations to manage the backlog.
Protest Suspended, But Demands Continue
Kurmi leaders clarified that the agitation has only been suspended, not withdrawn, warning that protests may resume if their demands are not met by the central and state governments.
