Dimapur, April 8 (EMN): The Chief Minister of Assam Sarbananda Sonowal along with Minister of State of Railways Rajen Gohain and other dignitaries jointly flagged off a new express train service between Dibrugarh and Silchar on April 8 heralding a new era of overnight communication between the two biggest cities of Upper Assam and Barak Valley respectively.
A press statement issued by the NF Railway Maligaon on April 8 stated that with the introduction of the new weekly train, a long standing demand of people from both the areas has been fulfilled.
'This train will go a long way in strengthening the bond between people of Barak and Brahmaputra valleys apart from improving rail connectivity. It’s like dream coming true for a huge section of population who are used to commute between Upper Assam and South Assam districts,' stated the release.
Sarbananda Sonowal is said to have expressed his happiness over introduction of the new service. He thanked the Prime Minister for taking special interest in development of Northeast region by allocating more than INR 90,000 crore. He hoped that more such services will be introduced in near future to fulfil the wish of the common people of North-eastern region. Shri Rajen Gohain Minister of State of Railways in his speech hoped that the new train will be very helpful for students studying in universities, medical colleges and engineering colleges apart from businessmen etc. It will also be helpful for people of Mizoram, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.
The inaugural ceremony at Dibrugarh station were attended by Terash Gowalla, MLA-Duliajan; Binod Hazarika, MLA-Chabua; Rituparna Baruah, MLA-Lahowal; Rameswar Teli, MP-Dibrugarh; Kamakhya Prasad Tasha, MP-Jorhat apart from General Manager NF Railway Sanjive Roy and Prashant Mishra, divisional railway manager-Tinsukia/NF Railway.
While at Silchar, Kabindra Purkayastha, Ex-Union Minister; Amar Chand Jain, MLA-Katigora; Mihir Kanti Shome, MLA-Udarbandh and Rajdeep Goala, MLA-Lakhipur apart from other distinguished people were present to witness this historic occasion.
The regular service of the train is said to start on April 16 from Dibrugarh and from Silchar on April 17.
The train is said to have AC 2 tier, AC 3 tier, sleeper class and general second class accommodation available while stoppages would be at Sibsagar Town, Simaluguri Jn, Mariani Jn, Furkating Jn, Dimapur, Lumding, New Haflong, Badarpur Jn during its journey both ways.
