QUETTA, Nov 24: Over 1,000 passengers were left stranded at Quetta Railway Station on Sunday due to a protest by railway employees, which resulted in a major disruption of train services.
The railway staff, protesting the alleged demolition of employee housing boundaries on Zarghoon Road during a road expansion project, blocked the tracks, delaying the Chaman Passenger, Jafar Express, and Bolan Mail for up to four hours.
The disruption highlighted the ongoing tensions between railway employees and road expansion efforts, leaving passengers to deal with significant delays and limited transportation options.
One affected traveler expressed frustration, stating, “Even trains aren’t reliable now.” This sentiment was shared by many who found themselves stuck at the station without alternative means of transport.
Railway unions have accused the project officials of unlawfully demolishing their housing and are calling for judicial intervention to resolve the issue. After a series of negotiations, the protest was put on hold for two days, allowing train services to resume temporarily.
This incident underscores the challenges in balancing infrastructure development with the rights and concerns of affected employees.
