GUWAHATI: The Northeast Frontier Railway hasinformed on Saturday that restoration of direct connectivity between Guwahati and the rest of the country will take more time even thous restoration of flood-damaged railway infrastructure in Bihar and West Bengal areas is going on in a war footing. The full direct connectivity cannot be restored bfore August 28 next.
N.F. Railway has borne the brunt of flood fury and many locations in its network still remain breached in Kishanganj, Katihar and Araria district of Bihar.
According to the CPRO of the N R Railway, Pranab Jyoti Sharma, as per engineering estimate full connectivity cannot be restored before 28th August, 2017. However, to alleviate the problems of passengers wanting to leave from northeast or come in and for the movement of goods, the following steps have been taken with immediate effect.
Kishanganj station has been made available for loading of goods / essential commodities. Merchants can now place indents for placement of rakes at Kishanganj. These rakes will be able to carry goods to all parts North Bengal, Assam and rest of Northeast.
A direct train service has been started between Dalkhola and Dibrugarh which is in addition to the presently running daily special trains between Dalkhola – Guwahati and Guwahati – Dibrugarh. At the same time Raiganj (on Barsoi – Radhikapur section) which got connected to Katihar and Malda after restoration of bridge no. 3 today, will now have daily service available to Malda Town and Katihar. Direct train service from Katihar to Raiganj will be started by extending running of Seemanchal Express from Katihar w.e.f. 19th August. As the track between Dalkhola and Raiganj continues to remain breached (till bridge no 133 is restored) passengers can avail bus service between these two stations which are located at close vicinity of four lane National Highway.
Thus effectively, passenger from Northeast will be able to travel in or out of NE region and north Bengal by availing bus connectivity between Dalkhola and Raiganj. Trains connectivity is available in both these stations for further journey to desired destinations.
In the meanwhile it is expected that if the situation does not deteriorate further, connectivity will be restored by 28th August.
Timings of Dibrugarh- Dalkhola-Dibrugarh special:
05608 Dibrugarh-Dalkhola spl Stations 05609 Dalkhola- Dibrugarh spl.
Arrival Departure Arrival Departure
— 17-00 Dibrugarh 17-30 —
17-55 18-00 New Tinsukia 15-55 16-00
20-18 20-20 Simaluguri 13.25 13-27
21-30 21.35 Mariani 12-00 12-05
22-05 22-07 Furkating 11-30 11-32
23-35 23-40 Dimapur 10-10 10-15
00-30 00-32 Diphu 09-25 09-27
01-15 01-25 Lumding 08-45 08-55
02-20 02-22 Hojai 08-00 08-02
03-35 03-37 Jagiroad 06-15 06-17
06-00 06-30 Guwahati 04-30 05-00
17-00 — Dalkhola — 18-00
The train will have 2 Second class cum luggage & brake van, 5 General second class, 1 AC 2 tier, 2 AC 3 tire and 1 Pantry car.