Tripura writes for Rajdhani Express before Durga puja

Agartala, Sep 14: Tripura Transport Minister Manik Dey today requested Railways Minister Piyush Goyel to introduce Rajdhani Express from Agartala connecting New Delhi before Durga puja scheduled to come off on September 26 next. Dey, in a letter addressed to Goyel said Rajdhani Express connection is a long pending demand of Tripura to facilitate express connectivity between state capital and national capital and central government has the policy to implement it with the establishment of railway link in the northeast region. “Agartala was connected in broad gauge track last year where railway minister made commitment that within a few months Rajdhani Express would start rolling from Agartala and the ministry had been in the process of launching express train service between important cities like Guwahati, Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangaluru but nothing was materialise,” Dey stated. He however, told media that there is no point to point connectivity between Agartala and Guwahati while weekly two passenger trains have been going to Kolkata and weekly one passenger train is going to Delhi but none of these trains could able to maintain schedule and to provide amenities to the passengers. As a result, still a large number of people of Tripura depend on air service even for Guwahati and Kolkata, he said adding, “The Northeast Frontier Railway authority must think every day Agartala is getting three direct flights to New Delhi, three flights to Guwahati and at least five flights connected to Kolkata. None of the flights has been going with a single vacant seat and that was only because of non-availability of sustainable, express train service from Agartala.” Dey further stated that Durga puja means a lot- festival in true sense. People cutting across the caste and creed remain busy with celebrations of puja and movement of people increases in metros would substantially high during the puja days. Keeping all aspects in mind, it will be a kind of bonanza for the people of the state if Rajdhani Express is extended up to Agartala. “I sincerely urge upon you to introduce Rajdhani Express before Durga puja which will add more colour to the festival spirit”, he said in the letter adding to introduce additional trains at least in Agartala-Kolkata-Agartala and Agartala–Dharmanagar–Agartala to control the rush of pandel hoppers during Durga puja. However, NFR sources said that the railway authority has already examined the condition of tracks and amenities to run Rajdhani Express up to Agartala but the report has not reached to the concern people and Ministry is also considering increasing trains in Agartala-Guwahati and Agartala-Kolkata routes besides, additional arrangement of local trains. “Indian Railway has certain criteria and obligations before introducing any express service and as a result, it is getting delayed in beginning of the services sought for by the state government,” NFR officials added. UNI