HT Correspondent
KOKRAJHAR, Jan 19: The demand for stoppage of the newly introduced Amrit Bharat Express trains at Kokrajhar railway station has gained momentum, with citizens and public representatives stressing the need to improve rail connectivity in the region.
The Railway Department recently introduced two Amrit Bharat Express trains to enhance passenger convenience across Assam, the Northeast and other parts of the country.
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The initiative has been welcomed by people from various sections in Kokrajhar town, the headquarters of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC).
On Monday, the Kamakhya–Rohtak Amrit Bharat Express, inaugurated between Kamakhya Junction and Rohtak in Haryana, along with the Dibrugarh–Gomti Nagar service, was welcomed at Kokrajhar railway station.
The programme was attended by Kokrajhar Lok Sabha MP Jayanta Basumatary, Rajya Sabha MP Rwngwra Narzary, Kokrajhar MLA Lawrence Islary, members of the Kokrajhar Railway Station Stop Demand Committee and district administration officials.
Addressing the gathering, the MPs and MLA Lawrence Islary said that people of Kokrajhar have faced long-standing problems related to railway connectivity, mainly due to the lack of stoppages of several important trains at the station.
They informed that steps have been initiated for reconstruction, expansion and development of necessary infrastructure at Kokrajhar railway station.
It was also stated that a crucial meeting of the Railways is scheduled to be held on January 29 at the divisional office in Alipurduar, West Bengal.
MLA Islary said he would personally attend the meeting and strongly raise the issues concerning Kokrajhar railway station, including the long-pending demand for stoppage of major trains.
Meanwhile, MPs Jayanta Basumatary and Rwngwra Narzary expressed their gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for introducing the Amrit Bharat Express trains in the Northeast.
They highlighted that Kokrajhar is not only the administrative headquarters of BTC but also an important educational and healthcare hub, housing three universities, a medical college, RNB Civil Hospital, an engineering college, CIT and several reputed colleges and schools.
They pointed out that Kokrajhar railway station is being developed as an international-standard station under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, with future plans to connect neighbouring Bhutan by rail.
In view of this, they urged that all trains passing through Kokrajhar should be given stoppages.
The MPs added that discussions have already been held with the Railway Minister on these demands and further follow-ups will continue.
They also demanded the extension of the Rangia Railway Division from Dangtal in Chirang district up to Srirampur, the last railway station on the Assam–West Bengal border in Kokrajhar district.
At the same time, Divisional Railway Users’ Consultative Committee member Arunabh Dev Sharma and social worker Chinmoi Dey welcomed the introduction of the Amrit Bharat Express trains but expressed dissatisfaction over the absence of a stoppage for the Vande Bharat Sleeper Express at Kokrajhar.
They termed it unfortunate that despite repeated representations to the Railway Ministry, residents of Kokrajhar continue to be deprived of stoppages for as many as sixteen important trains, including the Vande Bharat Sleeper Express inaugurated on January 17, Sarighat Express, Secunderabad Express, Capital Express, Puri Express, Rajya Rani Express, Poorvottar Sampark Kranti Express, Jammu–Amarnath Express, Amritsar Express, Karmabhoomi Express, Dwarka–Usha Express, Kaziranga Express, SMVT Bengaluru Superfast Express and Deoghar Express.
The long-pending demand for stoppages of these trains at Kokrajhar remains unresolved, and residents are now keenly watching how the Central Government and the Railway Ministry respond in the coming days.
