ER rolls back decision to suspend Kolkata-bound Express train from Balurghat
BALURGHAT: Following continuous agitation by a local railway development forum against the Eastern Railway's recent decision of suspending one Kolkata-bound Express train from Balurghat and rescheduling the timetable of another Express train on the same route, an official notification released on Monday declared that the Eastern Railway authority has taken back its earlier decision regarding the matter.
Notably ER authority on September 18 in a notification had announced the suspension of Balurghat-Kolkata Gour Link Express via Malda and in the same notification announced the rescheduling of timetable of Balurghat-Kolkata Tebhaga Express.
The notification had also stated that Tebhaga Express as per new timetable will depart from Balurghat at 11.15 pm and reach Kolkata station at 9.45 am the next day while it will depart again from Kolkata station at 6.15 pm and reach Balurghat at 5.30 am the next day instead of existing one.
Expressing grudge and resentment against the announcement of railways, the members of local Balurghat based railway development forum Balurghat-Eklakhi Rail O Unnayan Committee started agitation and hit the streets. Several street corners were also conducted.
Despite, the forum members had distributed leaflets to the common public and residents regarding the issue. General secretary of Balurghat-Eklakhi Rail O Unnayan Committee, Pijush Kanti Deb said: "We had also delivered separate letters to Divisional Railway Managers of both Northeast Frontier Railway and Eastern Railway expressing our resentment of railway's decision of suspending Gour Link Express and rescheduling the timetable of Tebhaga Express. In the letter we have also threatened for continuous stir unless taking positive step on the issue. Following our agitation, the concerned ER authority has taken back its decision."
According to him, the rail forum has also requested the concerned authority for better railway connectivity from Balurghat to outer states of the country for different purposes including education, medical and travelling.
"Following our demand, the ER board has also intimated us that existing Balurghat-Howrah Express will now run for five days instead of Monday and Tuesday. The necessary instruction has already been delivered to NF railway authority to implement the decision as early as possible," he said.
Trinamool district president of South Dinajpur, Arpita Ghosh expressing her concern over the decision of railway said: "It was unfortunate of suspending Gour Link Express and rescheduling the timetable of Tebhaga Express. During the tenure of BJP-led central government, several decisions were taken by the railways in recent times that could have negative impact on rail connectivity in Bengal."
