EASTERN RAILWAY ORGANIZED DIVISIONAL COMMITTEE MEETING WITH HON’BLE MPs....

EASTERN RAILWAY ORGANIZED DIVISIONAL COMMITTEE MEETING WITH HON’BLE MPs

Kolkata, September 3, 2024 

Reporter - Shahid Alam 

Eastern Railway holds a high level Divisional Committee Meeting with Hon’ble Members of Parliament over Howrah & Sealdah Division network in presence of General Manager, Eastern Railway Shri Milind K Deouskar. Principal Heads of Departments and Divisional Railway Managers of Howrah & Sealdah Divisions of Eastern Railway were also present in the meeting. In the Divisional Committee Meeting of Howrah & Sealdah Divisions organized at Kolkata today (3.9.2024) discussions were held on various key issues and development initiatives within Howrah & Sealdah division network. 

In the meeting, Shri Jagannath Sarkar, Hon’ble MP (Lok Sabha), Shri Nagendra Ray, Hon’ble MP (Rajya Sabha), Shri Samik Bhattacharya, Hon’ble MP (Rajya Sabha), Mohd. Nadimul Haque, Hon’ble MP (Rajya Sabha), Smt. Mitali Bag, Hon’ble MP (Lok Sabha), Shri Nalin Soren, Hon’ble MP (Lok Sabha), Shri Asit Kumar Mal, Hon’ble MP (Lok Sabha), Smt. Satabdi Roy, Hon’ble MP (Lok Sabha), Dr. Sharmila Sarkar, Hon’ble MP (Lok Sabha), Smt. Rachana Banerjee, Hon’ble MP (Lok Sabha), Shri Bapi Halder, Hon’ble MP (Lok Sabha), Shri Khalilur Rahaman, Hon’ble MP (Lok Sabha), Prof. Shri Sougata Roy, Hon’ble MP (Lok Sabha), Shri Abu Taher Khan, Hon’ble MP (Lok Sabha), Shri Yusuf Pathan, Hon’ble MP (Lok Sabha) will grace the occasion with their presence. Moreover, representatives of Ms. Mahua Moitra, Hon’ble MP (Lok Sabha), Shri Saumitra Khan, Hon’ble MP (Lok Sabha) and Shri Partha Bhowmick, Hon’ble MP (Lok Sabha) were also present.

Hon’ble MPs were welcomed by General Manager, Eastern Railway Shri Milind K Deouskar. Prof. Shri Sougata Roy, Hon’ble MP was elected as Chairmen of the meeting to discuss on various issues to bring allround development, passenger amenities & facilities as well as rail infrastructure over Eastern Railway. Prof. Sougata Roy, Hon’ble MP in his speech, terming the Howrah – New Jalpaiguri Vande Bharat Express service as excellent has welcomed the very expecting Sleeper version of Vande Bharat train. 

All the Hon’ble MPs mainly proposed for development of more passenger amenities at the station within their constituency. Hon’ble MPs like Dr. Sharmila Sarkar has requested for passenger amenities at Katwa station. Shri Jagannath Sarkar, Hon’ble MP demanded train service from Ranaghat to Puri and Metro service up to Kalyani & Ranaghat. Hon’ble MP Shri Jagannath Sarkar also requested for Kalyani to Gede local train service and Krishnanagar – Karimpur new line.

Hon’ble MP and renowned cricketer Shri Yusuf Pathan said that he will take Eastern Railway team to Beldanga. He also said that he will take initiative to stop all types of encroachment problem in his jurisdiction. Shri Yusuf Pathan, Hon’ble MP will extend all sorts of cooperation for development activities of Railways. 

All the Hon’ble MPs, especially, Smt. Satabdi Roy, Hon’ble MP have expressed their happiness regarding development of stations under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. Smt. Rachana Banerjee, Hon’ble MP also expressed her happiness regarding development initiatives of Eastern Railway. Smt. Mitali Bag, Hon’ble MP said that she will extend all possible help for solving land related bottlenecks at Bhabadighi area for completion of Tarakeswar – Bishnupur rail link project.

Shri Abu Taher Khan, Hon’ble MP proposed for development of more amenities & facilities at Bhagawangola, Murshidabad, Bhabta & many other stations. Shri Khalilur Rahaman, Hon’ble MP demanded stoppage of various trains like Jogbani Express at Dhulianganga, Teesta Torsa Express at Sagardighi, stoppage of Teesta Torsa Express at Manigram. He also proposed for more trains between Lalgola & Ranaghat. Shri Nalin Soren, Hon’ble MP demanded stoppage of Patna – Howrah Janshatabdi Express at Karmatar. Shri Bapi Halder, Hon’ble MP proposed for rail links between Joynagar Majilpur & Raidighi. Mohd. Nadimul Haque, Hon’ble MP requested for further improvement of quality of food served in Rajdhani Express. 

Hon’ble MPs like Smt. Rachana Banerjee and Dr. Sharmila Sarkar also proposed for construction of Road Over Bridge at various areas like Chuchura, Katwa, Memari, Masagram, Jaugram etc. Shri Nagendra Ray (Ananta Maharaj), Hon’ble MP proposed for New Bongaigaon – Kolkata Vande Bharat Express train. 

Shri Samik Bhattacharya, Hon’ble MP while addressing the meeting, revealed the requirement for the Vande Bharat Metro train in Sealdah – Bangaon and Sealdah – Ranaghat sections and also requested for AC coaches in Sealdah – Bangaon local trains. Shri Asit Mal, Hon’ble MP demanded stoppage of Howrah – New Jalpaiguri Shatabdi Express and Howrah – New Jalpaiguri Vande Bharat Express at Rampurhat station and Road Over Bridge at Ghuskara.

In the meeting, presentations were made regarding Parliamentary Constituency progress of various development initiatives and development of passenger amenities & facilities at different stations over Howrah & Sealdah Divisions.

Shri Milind K Deouskar, General Manager, Eastern Railway while addressing the meeting, informed that progress of works regarding augmentation of passenger amenities are in full swing with regular funding. The augmentation of coaches in various long-distance trains will soon be completed keeping in view the platform capacity. For increasing sectional speed, limited height subways (LHS) have been constructed at different places as a substitution of level crossings. Road Over Bridges (ROBs) will also be made by Railways as per requirement, if requisite land is available. General Manager also revealed the land related bottlenecks towards completion of Tarakeswar – Bishnupur project and sought for support local inhabitants of Bhabadighi area to solve this problem towards completion of the project.

General Manager, Eastern Railway assured the Hon’ble Members of Parliament to consider their demands for feasibility analysis of various demands for additional facilities & amenities and development issues raised in the meeting and implement those on approval by competent authority/Railway Board.

This Divisional Committee Meeting serves as a platform for direct interaction between the Eastern Railway authorities and the Hon’ble MPs, ensuring that the voices and concerns of the people are heard and addressed. The focus is on maximizing passenger benefits and improving the overall travel experience through a collaborative and consultative approach.