DEMU (Diesel Electric Multiple Unit) train service between Dibrugarh to Dangri resumes

A Correspondent

DOOMDOOMA: The state-of-the-art Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) train whose operation was suspended from August 3, 2018, between Tinsukia and Dangri, was resumed on Monday with a different time schedule.

Unlike earlier, now it will now ply between Dibrugarh town to Dangri instead of Tinsukia Junction to Dangri to enable the passengers of Barhapjan, Doomdooma, Talap and Dangri to catch the mail/express trains like Tinsukia- Naharlagan Satabdi Express, Ledo-Rangiya Intercity Express, Kamrup Express, Rajdhani and Brahmaputra Mail. At the same, the passengers will face less hardship in carrying their luggage as the passengers will be able to get down at the New Tinsukia station to avail themselves of the facilities of boarding the mentioned mail/express trains.

According to new schedule, the train will depart from Diburgarh town (DBRT) at 10.40 am and reach Dangri at 2.10 pm. Thereafter in its return journey, it will leave Dangri at 2.30 pm and reach Dibrugarh town at 5.45 pm.

However, there is discontent among the commuters for withdrawing the running of the train in the morning hours. Makum-Saikhowa (Sadiya) Ralpath Surakhya Samity which is fighting for the cause of development of Railway in this section since 1998, while welcoming the restart of this DEMU train after suspending its operation for 11 long months due to lack of required DEMU rake, demanded the railway authority to start another train service in the morning for the convenience of students, office-goers and businessmen in particular. It also renewed its demand for extension of the railway line up to Saikhowa for which a proposal was taken in the Rail Budget of 2012. It will be possible then to introduce a long distance mail/express train in this route from Saikhowa for the benefit of the north-eastern part of Assam as well as neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh which has its border with China.

The BG line, if extended up to Saikhowa, will also contribute towards development of tea-tourism, eco-tourism and pilgrim tourism in view of the fact that the area abounds in tea cultivation, besides being in the proximity of Dibru-Saikhowa Wildlife Sanctuary and holy Parasuram Kund.

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