Rail Roko leaves commuters grumbling

The ‘Rail Roko’ call given by the Telangana Political Joint Action Committee (TPJAC) may have been a ‘picnic’ for the pro-Telangana activists, but it left many commuters grumbling.

The most effected were the commuters who board the MMTS trains daily. Commuters like vegetable vendors, milk men and office goers were forced to undergo a harrowing time right from dawn after the MMTS services were cancelled in response to the ‘Rail Roko’ call.

The users of MMTS services, especially vegetable vendors and milkmen who board the trains from the suburbs to make their way to different parts of the twin cities and reach markets were particularly hit.

“I am frustrated by the ‘rail-roko.’ I know they are fighting for a cause, but I cannot stay indoors as my family depends on my daily earnings. If I sit at home and watch TV to know what is happening who will feed me and my children. So I have to opt for any alternative ways to reach the Mir Alam Mandi,” vegetable vendor Ramesh from Mahboobabad said.

Similarly, milkmen Abdullah from Shahpurmet of Nalgonda district and Rafiq who come to the city twice a day for selling milk by MMTS trains said, “I have to get to the city twice in day as I have my customers in twin cities. We sell around 100 litres of milk each day. With the MMTS trains being held up, we had to take the bus and auto. Their timings are erratic and they are very expensive. We were forced to opt for the alternative modes of transport since we did not want to lose customers.”