A CORRESPONDENT
DIBRUGARH: Dibrugarh MLA Prasanta Phukan has urged Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to completely shut down the old Dibrugarh Town Railway Station and divert all trains to the new Dibrugarh Railway Station situated on the town's outskirts at Banipur.
In a letter addressed to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on June 12, the Dibrugarh MLA said, "A railway line is, without a doubt, a lifeline for the development of any region. However, the existing railway track of Dibrugarh Town Railway Station is one of the main impediments to the development of Dibrugarh town. The railway track has divided Dibrugarh into two parts - southern part and northern part. Apart from causing serious traffic congestion in the town, the railway track has limited the widening of the road running parallel to the railway track. A number of educational institutions like Sampoorna Kendra Vidyalaya, St Mary's School, Little Flower School, MDKG Girls' College, DHSK Commerce College, DHSK College as well as the Dibrugarh Catholic Church and the SBI Gabharupather branch are located on the KC Gogoi Road which runs parallel to the railway track inside the town. The railway track has limited the width of the KC Gogoi Road to just 5 metres causing constant traffic jams on the busy road. So, in view of the above facts, I request you to kindly consider closing down of the Dibrugarh Town Railway Station and divert all trains to the new Dibrugarh Railway station at Banipur for the greater convenience of the people."
Speaking to The Sentinel, Prasanta Phukan said, "If the Dibrugarh Railway Station will shut down then major problems of Dibrugarh town will be solved. Only one train runs from the old Dibrugarh Railway Station. I wrote a letter to Union Railway Minister to shut down the railway station."
"If the Dibrugarh Town Railway Station is closed, the Shantipara railway gate will not be required thus saving a lot of revenue of the Railway department," Phukan added.
The Dibrugarh Town Railway Station built in 1882 is the oldest railway station in Northeast India. The railway track passes through the town and causes perennial traffic jams on the roads along the railway route resulting in severe inconvenience to commuters, students, patients and general public.
Also Watch: