Agartala: Passenger movement in Tripura has affected seriously following suspension of trains in the state due to undertaking gauge conversion work of railway track between Lumding and Silchar from Oct 1 last.
Police said that everyday there is chaos in all six major stations of the state since suspension of the service and introduction of a pair of passenger train between Karimganj and Agartala.
“Railway authority is selling uncounted tickets to the passengers in every station despite knowing that only five coach narrow gauge train can carry maximum 500-700 passengers but they are selling more than double of the capacity in all the stations without any regulation,” said a senior police official here.
He however, pointed out that anytime serious stampede incident might be happened in the station unless authority put restriction on selling the tickets in the counter or increase the fleet of train at least two more pairs in the route. The officials also stated that allegedly four persons including a journalist were harassed by train staff and railway police in Agartala bound train on Sunday .
Meanwhile, Transport minister of the state Manik Dey wrote another letter on Monday Union Railway Minister reiterating the demand to increase the fleet of trains to manage the situation if authority goes its existing plans. He also stated since conversion work has been started in Lumding-Silchar section, it has to be extended up to Agartala to complete the gauge conversion work together within six months considering the hardship faced by the people of Tripura and neighboring states.
The passenger service to and from Agartala in northern direction up to Guwahati and Silchar has been affected seriously, as the state transport corporation did not make any arrangement of schedule bus service connecting the towns with Agartala.(UNI)
