Title - Traders gherao Sri Prakash Jaiswal's house

KANPUR: Several traders, led by Akhil Bhartiya Udyog Vyapar Mandal, came out on roads to protest against Anwarganj-Mandhana railway route. They also gheraoed the residence of Union coal minister Sri Prakash Jaiswal and handed him a memorandum, demanding removal of the railway line.The traders marched to the house of the minister in Jagaipurwa in Lal Bangla. They held posters and banners which highlighted that the railway line which has become a cause of jam should be removed. Mandhana should be connected with Panki railway station. The traders told Jaiwsal about the problems being faced by them.The traders said that in the rail budget 2012-13, the work of survey for laying of new railway line between Mandhana and Panki was approved and it was also highlighted that the Anwarganj-Mandhana railway line would be removed. But at present the work of electrification of the Anwarganj-Mandhana railway line is going on. They also said that it was learnt that the railway track between the two stations would be doubled. "This is contradictory. Therefore, we urge the local MP that he should accept the demand of the traders and respect their sentiments and get the railway tracks removed as it has become a cause of jams," said Gyanesh Mishra, general secretary, Akhil Bhartiya Udyog Vyapar Mandal.Mishra said that there are 19 crossings on the railway track between the two stations and whenever these crossings get closed, jams occur on a long stretch of the GT Road.GT Road runs parallel to the Anwarganj-Mandhana railway line and jam often occur on prominent crossings like Gumti, Jarib Chowki, 80 Feet Road, Rawatpur and Kalyanpur whenever a train passes. The situation becomes worse when a goods train passes as it takes more time and the crossing gates remain closed for longer period, causing problem to the people.A senior member of Gumti Vyapar Mandal said that the jams affect the business in the markets that lie next to the railway tracks. He said that the traders are fighting for the cause since the last two years and continue to do so till the demand is met.Raje Gupta, president, Gumti Vyapar Mandal said that connecting Mandhana with Panki would resolve the issue."If the electrification of this railway line is done and the tracks are doubled then more trains would pass through the route. This railway line after electrification can be used to travelling upto Mathura and Bareilly. More trains will pass, then the crossing may close quite often and adversely affect our business. So we demand removal of this track," he said.Jaiswal assured traders of all possible help and said that he is making efforts to do the needful.