‘Stalled Falakata Rly Stn development project adds to woes of residents’
Alipurduar: Two years ago, the Indian Railways initiated an ambitious infrastructure development project at Falakata station under the “Amrit Bharat” scheme, generating significant anticipation among residents and travellers. However, the project’s progress has come to a standstill for the past three months, resulting in significant inconvenience for passengers and raising questions about the project’s future.
In August 2023, the Railways announced plans to upgrade Falakata station, one of the key stations in the region, along with 36 other stations across the state. The project aimed to introduce modern amenities such as escalators, lifts, and other passenger-friendly infrastructure. Despite the initial promise, only a fraction of the planned developments could have been materialised even after a year of work. Adding to the woes, the condition of the 900-metre stretch of road connecting National Highway 17/D to Falakata station has deteriorated significantly. Daily accidents on this dilapidated road have become a regular occurrence, exacerbated by clouds of dust that plague local residents and commuters.
Shubhrabrat Dey, President of Falakata Town Block unit of the Trinamool Congress, criticised the project’s management, saying: “Each and every project of the Central government is full of hypocrisy. Why should the Railways be an exception? They neither start and finish the projects themselves nor allow the state government to take over. Earlier, when Falakata Municipality attempted to fill potholes on the railway road, the Railways filed a case against it. If the infrastructure development work does not resume soon, we will initiate a larger movement.”
Despite multiple inquiries, railway officials, including the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of the Alipurduar Division, have not provided satisfactory explanations. DRM Amarjit Gautam stated: “The Amrit Bharat project is directly controlled by the Central government. I am unaware of the exact reason for the work being stopped. However, I will investigate the matter thoroughly and strive to restore progress.”
