MSRSS demands resumption of DEMU train service in Makum-Dangri section

A CORRESPONDENT

DOOMDOOMA: Makum Saikhowa (Sadiya) Ralpath Surakhya Samity (MSRSS) exhorted the Railway authority for enhancement of passenger facilities in the Makum-Dangri section, besides resumption of DEMU train service that was closed down in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.

A four-member delegation of the organization led by secretary Dhiren Deka, while submitting a memorandum to the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Tinsukia Division, Bijoy Kumar Mishra on Wednesday, had a two-hour long discussion on various aspects of the demands.

In its memorandum, MSRSS demanded that the DEMU train should run in between Tinsukia and Dangri in the early hours of the morning for the benefit of the students, office goers and daily commuters and it should be extended upto Dibrugarh on its return journey. Alternatively, it should have connection with the Ledo-Dibrugarh DEMU train at Tinsukia Jn so that passengers travelling to Dibrugarh for medical, educational or some other purposes could avail this facility.

It further stated that Makum-Dangri section, which is an important part of former Dibru-Sadiya Railway constructed by Assam Railway & Trading Co.(A. R. T. Co.) in 1881, should receive the recognition as a 'Heritage Railway' in the Railway map of India as the first ever railway line of Assam.

Regrettably, the declaration in the Rail Budget of 2012 in response to the demand of the MSRSS to extend the line up to Saikhowa (Dhola), the terminating station prior to great earthquake of Assam in 1950, that got totally devastated resulting in restriction of the track up to Dangri which is situated about 6 KM ahead of that, has not been executed till date. Thus, even after 72 years of independence, the people of the south bank of the River Brahmaputra in Sadiya subdivision are deprived of railway communication facilities. If extended, it will connect an important terminal river port of India i.e. Inland Water ways No. 2 along the River Brahmaputra.

The MSRSS also demanded reopening of Doomdooma Railway Station (1855) having Passenger Reservation System (PRS) and to provide a halt station at Talap Balibazar area till the shifting of present railway station from the present isolated site to the Bazar area as per assurance given by the Deputy GMG(G) vide his letter No. Z/97/G Memorabdum dated 08.07.1999.

With regard to re-survey of unwanted level crossings having least traffic movement so as to improve the timing of the train, the DRM said that the co-operation and assistance of the district administration would be needed for that. He expressed surprise at the attitude of the people to construct impoverished subways to cross over the railway line at an interval of every 50 to 100 yards.

The committee also urged upon the DRM to carry out the eviction operation in right earnest as per norms in the Makum-Dangri section, where of late fresh encroachments have been going on in places like Barhapjan, Hansara, Doomdooma, Rupaisiding and Talap under the very nose of the authority. It was stated in the memorandum that no action was taken in the past even if the matter of illegal constructions was informed to the higher authority by the Railway staff of the station concerned.

For the sake of enhancing the revenue earnings of the branch, the MSRSS gave the proposal of extending the operation of 55913Up/55914 Dn Jorhat - Tinsukia train upto Dangri to which the DRM gave his assurance to look into the feasibility of the matter.

Significantly, the DRM expressed regret by saying that the region which once saw the growth of tea, coal and oil industries because of introduction of rail communication, was now experiencing the rapid decline of those glorious days.

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