Demand for train stops at Balipara, Sootea gets a boost

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Sept 11: The Railway Sangram Samiti (RSS), Balipara has called off its proposed railway blockade on September 24, 2015 following an assurance from the NF Railway Deputy Mager (Operation) that he will take up the issue of a stop of all important trains at Balipara in Sonitpur district with the Railway Board (RB).

The introduction of broad gauge trains from Rangiya to Mokokcheleng, Rangiya-harlagun and Guwahati to Mokokcheleng have benefitted a section of people, but not those living at Balipara and Sootea in Sonitpur district. The people of these two places have all along been demanding stops of all important trains there. Their claim is that Balipara and Sootea Niz are important places as people from there go to New Delhi, Mokokcheleng, harlagun and Guwahati everyday. “As there are no stops at Balipara and Sootea, we are deprived of the benefits offered by the introduction of the broad gauge trains,” they said.

Meanwhile, in order to give the demand a decisive push, Assam Assembly Deputy Speaker Bhimanda Tanti today called the officials of NF Railway in order to have a discussion with  them on the demand. A two-member team from NF Railway led by Deputy Mager (Operation)  DD Choudhury met the Deputy Speaker at his office chamber of today in the presence of representatives of  the Railway Sangram Samiti. The Deputy Speaker told the NF Railway team that if the demand for a stop of all important trains at Balipara is not met, the Railway Sangram Samiti would resort to a rail blockade agitation on September 24 this year. In their response, the NF Railway team said that they would take up the matter with the Railway Board and that the process would take a month.

The assurance from the NF Railway has led the Samiti to call off its agitation. They, however, said that if their demand is not fulfilled, they will resort to their agitation afresh.