Mumbai-Delhi Rajdhani Express delayed in IRCTC labour ruckus

Labour trouble at the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) caused the delay of the prestigious 12951 Mumbai-Delhi Rajdhani Express at Mumbai Central on Friday afternoon. According to officials, the sacking of surplus staff over the past couple of days at IRCTC nationwide was the reason for the impromptu agitation by IRCTC staff who serve on the Rajdhani. These people first refused to take their place in the train and then started squatting on the tracks forcing top Western Railway officials of Mumbai division- whose headquarters is in Mumbai Central- to rush to the site.

The train, scheduled to leave Mumbai Central at 4:35pm, left only at 4:55pm after the Railway Protection Force (RPF) detained the IRCTC staff who were agitating and squatting on the tracks.

A senior railway official said that the 12952 Rajdhani train was supposed to leave Delhi for Mumbai was also delayed at New Delhi station because of the agitation. "It is part of the restructuring of IRCTC and also because of the recently introduced e-catering policy of the railway ministry. Several trains are being given out to outside catering agencies and this in turn will progressively reduce the business of IRCTC's catering arm. So the surplus staff will find it tough," said the official.