Denied entry in local train, women stage rail roko at Diva station

Women commuters staged a rail roko as the passengers travelling by the ladies compartment blocked the doors and didn't allow them to board the train at Diva station.

The incident happened at 7.07 am when a Karjat-Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) bound fast train made a halt at Diva. This is when passengers inside the ladies coach blocked the door of CSMT end coach, preventing other women from Diva who were trying to board. "We have informed the Central Railway authorities to not stop at Diva station if the train is given halt at Dombivali, as it results in overcrowding. The rail roko movement was to give out a message of poor scheduling of trains," said Shailesh Raut, president, Kalyan-Kasara Rail Passenger Association.

A scuffle between women commuters was also reported. Sources inform that the furious women standing at the platform asked the motorman to stop the train, and they then started getting down on tracks. They protested for 10-12 minutes after which they railway police intervened and pacified the women commuters. "There were no cancellation of trains but only delays. The situation at Diva will be monitored," said Sunil Udasi, chief PRO, Central Railway.

There have been instances of rail roko at Diva in the past too after which the Central Railway (CR) started running separate trains from there.