"We have been protesting for months but the government didn't listen to us. They forced us to call for a strike," added another Uttar Pradesh farmer, Mahesh Baliyan.
Giving detail of the earnings, he said the department had generated Rs. 18.853 billion against the expenditures of Rs. 12.950 billion, posting a profit of Rs. 5.903 billion during 2018-19.
Above 230 modern coaches would be purchased in two phases, with 46 coaches imported from other countries, while rest of 184 manufactured at Carriage Factory Islamabad.
Regarding the availability of coaches, he said that at present around 472 coaches were out of service or non-functional, which needed heavy or light repair.