Diversion of trains without prior information by the Tinsukia NFR irks passengers

Our Correspondent

TINSUKIA: An irresponsible delayed notification by the Tinsukia Division of NFR pertaining to diversion of trains for four days from July 6 to July 9 has put railway passengers into quandary. While the Division issued the notification on June 28, the Senior Divisional Commercial Manager released a press note without date through social media only on July 7 informing running of shuttle services for two days after the Division perceived acute inconveniences faced by the railway passengers.

In view of double-track construction and traffic block in Lumding Division, the Railways diverted all trains via Bogibeel Bridge-Rangapara North bypassing Tinsukia route. Several thousand passengers of all long-distance daily trains like Rajdhani Express, Kamrup Express, and Brahmaputra Mail had a harrowing time availing trains from Dibrugarh. Alleged failure of Tinsukia Division to issue prior information about the diversion of trains irked railway passengers as many passengers came to know about the decision only after reaching Tinsukia from far-flung areas, including Arunachal Pradesh. The Division ought to have anticipated the inconveniences and could have arranged alternative transhipment to ferry passengers from July 6. After the Division faced the ire of passengers, it introduced shuttle train services between Dibrugarh-Mariani-Dibrugarh via Tinsukia for two days (July 8 to July 9), that too without much publicity and utility, if press release issued by the Senior DCM was of any indication.

Meanwhile, the NFR Mazdoor Union (NFRMU) strongly criticized the Railway authority for the harassment meted out to the railway passengers against the unplanned execution of traffic block. The Railway being a service provider should not act against the interest of passengers. The Union, while condemning such irresponsible functioning, warned the Railway authority to refrain from such type of passenger harassment in future. The Union, however, welcomed the improvement of railway services in the Division.

Also read: Lumding-Silchar railway track opened for goods traffic