Jamshedpur MLA Saryu questions railway claims on punctuality, alleges data manipulation by officials

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur: Jamshedpur West MLA Saryu Roy has launched a sharp attack on officials of the Chakradharpur Railway Division, accusing them of misleading the public over train punctuality and failing to address chronic delays.
Intensifying his ongoing agitation, Roy questioned the credibility of the division’s claim that train punctuality at Tatanagar junction has improved to 65–70 percent.
Reacting to a recent press conference by the Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (DCM), Roy asked, “Since when has this percentage been calculated? What methodology was used, and why was not a single train named to substantiate the claim?”
He alleged that officials were “distorting facts despite their sharp intellect” and attempting to deflect attention from ground realities.
Roy reiterated that his movement is centered on a single demand—ensuring that trains arrive and depart on time from Tatanagar. He pointed out the unexplained delays between nearby stations, questioning why trains that reach Chandil, Kandra, and Rakha Mines on time take hours to cover the final stretch to Tatanagar.
“We are asking a simple question, but the railways are responding with technical jargon instead of answers,” he pointed out.
Highlighting operational priorities, Roy alleged that passenger trains are routinely halted to allow freight trains to pass—an issue he said was initially denied but later tacitly accepted by railway authorities. Referring to a video statement by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Roy noted that increased freight movement due to iron ore supply to major steel plants like Tata Steel, SAIL (Bokaro), and Durgapur has contributed to delays, though he argued the explanation remains incomplete.
He also raised concerns over the lack of infrastructure development in the Tatanagar region, questioning why additional railway lines—such as a proposed third line between Adityapur and Salgajhari—have not been constructed despite nationwide modernization efforts.
Calling the DCM’s remarks “misleading,” the MLA said local train services, including MEMU and passenger trains vital to daily commuters, continue to suffer from delays but are ignored in official discussions. “This is not a political issue but a public one affecting thousands across the region,” he asserted.
Roy confirmed that he has shared a memorandum with Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi and BJP state president Aditya Sahu, urging broader political support for the agitation. He emphasized that the issue impacts not just Jamshedpur but also commuters from Ghatshila, Baharagora, Seraikela, and adjoining areas.
As the protest gains momentum, Roy said the movement will expand geographically, calling on citizens to unite for a lasting solution. “Railway officials must fulfill their duty and ensure that passengers are not subjected to such persistent inconvenience,” he added