Jamshedpur: Congress workers staged a one-day sit-in protest on Monday near the JNAC roundabout at Sakchi Stand No. 9, targeting the Railway administration’s mismanagement and the persistent delays of trains at Tatanagar Station.

The protest, organized under the leadership of Chinna Rao, President of the East Singhbhum District Congress Cooperative Department, saw participation from senior leaders, including District Congress President Parvinder Singh, former State Secretary Vijay Yadav, and Youth Congress State General Secretary Rakesh Sahu.

Commuters Facing “Unacceptable” Delays

During the demonstration, workers shouted slogans against the Railway administration and the Central Government. Leaders highlighted the deteriorating operational standards, specifically focusing on the plight of daily commuters:

• Short Routes, Long Delays: Leaders pointed out that the short distance between Chandil and Jamshedpur, typically a 30-minute journey, is currently taking passenger trains three to four hours to complete.

• Impact on Citizens: The unpredictable schedule is severely affecting office-goers and students who rely on timely rail services for their daily routines.

A Roadmap for Escalation

Chinna Rao issued a stern warning, stating that the Congress party would launch a phased agitation if rail operations do not improve immediately:

1. Phase 1: Effigy burning of the Prime Minister and the Railway Minister.

2. Phase 2: A massive protest rally.

3. Phase 3: Gherao (encirclement) of the DRM office.

4. Final Phase: A “Rail Roko” (stop the trains) agitation at Tatanagar Railway Station.

Despite the blistering heat, local citizens showed solidarity with the protesters, providing water to those participating in the sit-in. Key party members present included Sanjay Yadav, Vishwajit Jena, Rajnish Singh, Sakchi Block President Dharma Rao, and student leader Sonu Sonkar, among others.