Entities espousing the cause of passengers travelling by the Mettupalayam-Coimbatore MEMU passenger train are apparently not on the same page on holding protest as a means to inviting attention of the Railways to the delay in adding additional coaches to the train to address overcrowding.
The protest plan is currently being debated virtually.
While one section is keen on mobilising the support of the passengers en masse for a show of strength, another section advocates resilience and active pursuit of continuous representations to the administrative machinery.
“It is indeed a matter of concern that the Railways has not addressed the issue with the extent of attention it warrants. There have been precedents of collective protests by passengers yielding the desired outcome,” S. Basha, General Secretary, Mettupalayam Talukka Podhu Thhozhilalar Sangam, affiliated to CITU, said.
If not for the protests that paved way for the operation of Mettupalayam-Coimbatore MEMU passenger train, several thousands of conservative parents prioritising safety would not have educated their daughters in colleges in the Coimbatore city, Mr. Basha pointed out.
