The suspension of night services on certain sections in Orissa, Jharkhand, Bihar and West Bengal has also been extended till Friday as part of the precautionary steps that include providing of escorts and pilots for the trains.
With Maoists giving a call for bandh in four states beginning today, the railways has decided to impose speed restriction of 65km per hour on passenger trains in Naxal-affected areas and taken a slew of other steps to ward off the repeat of Gyaneshwari Express attack.
The suspension of night services on certain sections in Orissa, Jharkhand, Bihar and West Bengal has also been extended till Friday as part of the precautionary steps that include providing of escorts and pilots for the trains.
"We have made arrangement for safety and security of passengers and railway properties in Jharkhand, Bihar, Orissa and West Bengal during the 48-hour bandh call given by Maoists," said a senior railway ministry official.
As per the measures, all passenger trains including Rajdhani Express will have escorts from Railway Protection Force and would run in a group as far as possible.
Speed restrictions of 65km per hour have also been imposed on all passenger trains running on the sections running through the naxal-affected areas till June 16, he said.
Besides, intensive round-the-clock patrolling would be carried out at railway bridges and vital installations.
Guards and drivers are being provided walkie-talkie sets to communicate with the control room and quick reaction teams are being kept in readiness at important locations, said the official.
These precautionary measures have been taken in view of the attack on Jnaneshwari Express train on May 28 during the last bandh call given by Maoists. At least 149 passengers were killed in that incident.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}