Gujjar agitation cost Rs 1500 Crore to Indian Railway

Gujjar agitation, which remained deadlocked for 14th day, has caused losses to the tune of Rs 1500 crore to the Indian Railways. “We have lost Rs 1500 crore due to the Gujjar agitation as there has been disruption in passenger train movement and in freight traffic,” railway minister Mamata Banerjee said in New Delhi on Monday. Describing the loss as “massive,” the railway minister said it is weighing heavily on the Railways which are yet to recover from the burden of implementation of Sixth Pay Commission report and hike in pension and the losses incurred due to Maoist problem. She said while the Railways took the burden of Rs 55,000 crore from internal resources for the implementation of the pay panel report, Maoist attacks on rail property has also cost the organisation around Rs 500 crore.