GUWAHATI: BJP Member of Parliament from Darrang-Udalguri constituency in Assam Dilip Saikia has proposed that two long-distance trains be named in honor of prominent Vaishnavite saints Srimanta Sankardeva and Srimanta Madhabdeva. This request was made during the Demands for Grants debate concerning the Ministry of Railways’ budget for 2025-26. Saikia suggested that one train be designated for the Assam-Delhi route in memory of Sankardeva, while the other be assigned to the Assam-Chennai route in honor of Madhabdeva.
Saikia, in his speech, pointed out the valuable contributions of these saints to the religious and cultural heritage of Assam and asked the government to acknowledge and honor their legacies. Additionally, he called for the introduction of a Vande Bharat Express train that would connect Dibrugarh and Guwahati, passing through Rangia and Udalguri. He also advocated for a direct train service between Guwahati and Odisha, which would serve the 4.5 million residents of Odisha origin living in Assam.
Saikia expressed concern over the lack of railway connectivity in Darrang district and sought information on his earlier petitions on this matter. He also demanded the revival of halting points at different stations that were withdrawn during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Finally, Saikia appreciated the Indian government for allotting a considerable amount of Rs. 2,65,200 crore to the Indian Railways in the budget, appreciating efforts towards building railway infrastructure all over the country.
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