Train services likely to be hit across the country on October 22

Passengers travelling by the Indian Railways could face a troublesome time tomorrow. And the rush due to the festive season is not going to make matters better.

According to reports, several railwaymen unions are expected to go on a 2-hour strike on October 22. This could lead to huge trouble as the entire train services across the country could come to a halt during the 2 hour period of the strike.

The Unions are threatening a strike if the railway ministry fails to give the railway employees productivity-linked bonuses, said a media report

However, there is a high probability of the strike being called off as the government earlier today announced bonuses to over 30 lakh central government employees.

About 17 lakh non-productivity employees of the central government will receive Rs 2,791 crore as productivity-linked bonuses.

Another 13 lakh employees will get Rs 906 crore as a bonus by the central government, which means a total of 30 lakh employees will be given a bonus by the government.

The Rs 3,737 crore bonus will be released in a week's time by the government. Every year before Vijayadashami, the government gives out the bonuses. 

Meanwhile, the Railways in view of the upcoming festive season has begun to run 392 festival special trains from October 20.

The special trains will be run for destinations such as Kolkata, Patna, Varanasi, Lucknow among others to cater to the growing demand in the ensuing holiday period of Durga Puja, Dussehra, Diwali and Chhatt puja.

These new festival special trains will operate only till November 30 and will not have a continued run.