Uncertainty looms large over fate of Makum-Dangri passenger train

A CORRESPONDENT

DOOMDOOMA: The Makum-Dangri DEMU passenger train which started plying in between Tinsukia Junction (Jn) to Dangri ceased operation well before the declaration of lockdown. Now in view of the improvement of the COVID-19 situation, while the operation of short distanced passenger trains has been revived in some other divisions of the NF Railway, the resumption of operations in Tinsukia Division is yet to be taken up by the authority. The uncertainty looms large over the fate of the 75911/75912 DEMU train running between Tinsukia Jn and Dangri as a transfer order of its gang staff which was issued by the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Tinsukia Division on December 21.

This action of the DRM, Tinsukia Division raised huge repercussions among the commuters. Consequently, the Dangri unit of All Assam Students' Union (AASU) staged a sit-in at Dangri Railway station on December 18.

However the said order was kept in abeyance by the DRM after a meeting of NF Railway Mazdoor Union and the workers with him on the following day in this regard for about six months on condition that if the operation of the train was not resumed within that time period, then the gang staff would be transferred to the places to be determined by the Railway authority. However, the gang staff are passing their days amid great uncertainty because of the non-resumption of the operation of the train soon. Their misgivings were further enhanced as the programme for monitoring of the track by OMD was not undertaken in this section as fixed by the authority.

The Makum-Dangri railway line which is an important part of former Dibru-Sadiya Railway line established by Assam Railway & Trading Co.Ltd.(A. R.T. Co. Ltd ) in 1881 is the first railway line of Assam. But instead of giving it a heritage railway line status, the attempt of the present NDA Government to do away with its operation systematically so as to abolish its existence from the railway map of the region, has been a cause of worry for the people.

When the matter was brought to the notice of Lakhimpur MP Pradan Baruah by Dhiren Deka, Secretary, Makum-Saikhowa (Sadiya) Ralpath Surakhya Samity on Friday, he assured him to look into the matter so as to impress upon the railway authority not to withdraw its operation in view of its strategic importance and development prospect of tourism like eco-tourism, pilgrim tourism, tea-tourism etc.

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