MARGAO
Agitated citizens and Congress workers stormed at the Margao railway station premises to again protest over the access and parking fees levied by the contractor despite the Konkan Railway Corporation clarifying that the system has been kept on hold for the moment.
Prominent citizens including Jose Maria Miranda, Arch Carlos Gracias, Congress leaders Savio D’Silva, Moreno Rebello, and several taxi drivers and citizens descended at the Konkan Railway Station after it was observed that the general public was being looted through some BJP functionary who was not even the official contractor for the KRC.
Coutinho informed that though the Dy GM of KRC Baban Ghatge had publicly announced that no parking fees were applicable for vehicles entering into the station compound and leaving within 10 minutes, the contractor was mischievously collecting money from vehicles claiming that the time limit was 5 minutes and not 10 minutes.
Claiming that he conducted a sting operation by personally entering the station compound with his vehicle and video recording the conversation with the workers at the entry and exit points, Coutinho said the workers are clearly seen demanding for payment for a time less than 10 minutes, compelling him to call for a protest.
Spotting a good turnout at the railway station, police force lead by PI Tulsidas Naik made their entry, as the agitating crowd prevented the workers from collecting parking fees from any of the vehicles leaving the station.
With the arrival of Dy GM of KRC Ghatge at the scene, a heated discussion ensued with Coutinho charging that the railway authorities were not acting against the illegal collection as some BJP functionary was involved; which however was denied by Ghatge.
The Railway officers having been cornered on all fronts finally were compelled to direct the contractor to stop all the operations, except collect parking fees from those vehicles parked within the parking lots.
