The Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), the apex trade body of Kolhan region, has sent a 13-point list to Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu. The body has demanded an AC superfast train between Tatanagar and Howrah, an inter-city connecting Tatanagar with capital Ranchi, a direct train to Jodhpur via Jaipur and many more.
The proposals were framed based on the expectations of the people of Kolhan region comprising three districts — East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum and Seraikela- Kharsawan. SCCI vice-president and chairman of the trade outfit’s railway committee, Vijay Anand Moonka faxed the letter to the Union minister said, “In view of the rising number of passengers traveling towards East, we demand introduction of an AC superfast train between Tatanagar and Howrah.”
The senior functionary of the trade outfit pointed out that an inter-city express connecting Jamshedpur with Ranchi will help in reducing rush in long distance buses between the two destinations. A direct train to Jodhpur via Jaipur is a major demand of SCCI. “A sizeable number of passengers from the steel city and its adjoining areas travel to places like Jaipur. But, in the absence of a direct train, they face immense difficulties. Keeping this in view we demand trains said, a senior functionary of the chamber.
Officials of SCCI said that the region has been completely neglected. Businessmen also want a direct train to Jaipur where they have to go for business. In the absence of a direct train to Jaipur, they are required to travel to Howrah to board a train for Jaipur. “We demand that a new train connecting Tatanagar to Jaipur, must be introduced,” said the senior functionary of the organisation.
SCCI said they have also requested the Railway Minister to ensure boarding of passengers in Howrah-Duronto Express at Tatanagar. The train presently has a service stoppage at Tatanagar and passengers are not allowed boarding facility. He asked the Railways to charge fare from originating station to the destination for passengers boarding at Tatanagar in that train.
They demanded introduction of pantry car in several long distance trains including Tata-Jallianwallah Bag Express, Tata-Patna-Durg South Bihar Express and Shalimar-Bhuj Express besides construction of a multi-level parking outside Tatanagar, an A-category railway station under Chakradharpur railway division of South Eastern Railway.
Meanwhile, Central Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (CGPC) has demanded increase in the frequency of Tatanagar-Amritsar Jallianwala Bagh Express train. The Sikh community has been demanding either a new direct Express train from Tatanagar to Amritsar or increase in the frequency of the train from bi-weekly to atleast four times a week.
At present, 18103 Jallianwala Bagh Express leaves Tatanagar for Amritsar junction on Monday and Wednesday and the down train (18104) arrives here on Thursday and Saturday every week. The CGPC officials warned of taking to the streets if their demand is not heeded in the rail budget this year.