MENDIPATHAR: Steering the train on its maiden voyage from the soil of Garo Hills, engine driver Bijay Dey Sarkar felt overwhelmed by the huge response for the arrival of the railways by the people of Garo Hills.
He was behind the wheel on the historic day at Mendipather to drive the 55819 UP Mendipathar to Guwahati (Mnd-Ghy) twenty bogey passenger train.
“Since morning crowds have been thronging my train inspecting the bogies and taking photos both inside and outside. Many came forward to shake hands with us and expressed their happiness to have the train in Garo Hills and even asked me if I was going to drive it. I felt very proud,” said Sarkar who has been driving locomotives for the last 27 years.
His co-pilot (driver) is a young Parvesh Kumar who has been with the railways for just three years.
The two drivers will be the backbone of the twenty bogie passenger train that leaves Mendipather every morning at 7 AM for Guwahati.
The same train will return to Mendipather at 10 PM.
Marigolds, balloons for Mendi train
The twenty bogie passenger train stationed at Mendipathar for the launch of the first train was decked up for the occasion.
A bouquet of flowers at each bogie door and marigolds covering the entire train added color to the first launch of the train service.
The diesel engine powered passenger train which leaves Mendipathar every morning is marked as 55819 UP Mendi-Guwahati while the return train is marked as 55820 DN Guwahati-Mendi.
Speaking to this scribe at the station, senior most official of the Indian Railways at the Divisional Railway Manager of NF Railway Ratan Lal informed that the train service begins from Saturday itself on a daily basis.
“The train leaves Mendipathar every morning at 7 AM and arrives at Guwahati station by 11 AM. The same train will leave Guwahati at 6:10 the same evening and arrive at Mendipathar by 10 PM,” informed Ratan Lal.