GUWAHATI: Representatives of the Assam Rail Passenger Association (ARPA) met with the General Manager (GM) of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) demanding solutions to several problems, including the revival of train services, improvements in services, and the reduction of fares for certain trains. The GM ensured that all possible steps would be taken towards resolving them.
The organisation demanded the resumption of services for multiple trains, mentioning that 21 services, including 12 trains exclusively for the people of the state, had been stopped during the COVID pandemic. Some of them include 55817 (NBQ-GHY), which will provide connection also to the lower Assam users to travel by 15669 (GHY-DBRT Nagaland Exp) from Guwahati safely at 20.45 pm, 15771 (APDJ-GHY), which will enable the passengers of BG-I and BG-III to take long-distance trains run via Goalpara that leave from Kamakhya Terminal in the 2nd half of the day as well as to take evening flights also from Borjhar Airport, and the extension of Silchar-Guwahati services towards Rangia and Bongaigaon.
They also demanded the restoration of several stoppages that were withdrawn during the COVID period to restrict the movement of people during the pandemic. Since there is no such restriction in place, the services to these stations should now be restarted. Also, it has been more than 18 months since the new Gauripur-Bilasipara section has been opened, but no passenger train has been started for the same. The organisation demanded the immediate introduction of services connecting Guwahati via Goalpara Town and Barpeta Road. Also, since the new AIIMS has been inaugurated, more trains should now stop at Changsari station so that people from different parts of the Northeastern region can easily access the services out here.
Although the electrification process has been completed on the New Bongaigaon to Guwahati via Rangia route, the Electric Multiple Unit local services have not been initiated on this route. A train reaching Guwahati at around 7 a.m. and leaving the same at around 8 p.m. will be very useful for the people working in the city.
They also mentioned that the Railway Ministry is still taking undue advantage of the COVID situation by charging express train fares for ordinary passenger trains, which people use regularly. The trains 07902 LEDO-DBRT DMU special, 05915 SLGR-DBRT passenger special, 05917 JORHAT-TSK passenger special, 05602 LMG-GHY passenger special, and 07523 NBQ-GHY DMU special were cited as examples.
They also demanded the rescheduling of 12423, 12424, 20503, and 20504 Rajdhani Expresses, 15601 Dhubri Guwahati, and 05921 Dhubri New Tinsukia trains, along with the introduction of superfast trains for Upper Assam as per the decisions announced by NFR in 2019.
They demanded the extension of the range of several trains, including the 13142 Teesta Torsa, 12378 Sealdah Special, 13148 Uttar Banga, 13150 Kanchan Kanya, and 15722 Pahariya Exp, to New Bongaigaon, Rangia, or Guwahati while reconsidering the boundaries of the Rangia division. They also expressed concerns regarding the non-completion of the Agyathuri Passenger Terminal and the non-delivery of passenger amenities, including platform size, the safety of passengers, and the checking of tickets for unreserved trains.
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