Maligaon, April 9 (MExN): Taking another step in Railway’s commitment for providing better commuter service, the Railway Minister of State Rajen Gohain flagged off a Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) train (No. 75730/75729) between Silghat Town and Guwahati on April 8 morning at a ceremonial function attended by the Minister for Water Resources etc, Government of Assam, Keshab Mahanta and senior railway officials including the General Manager Chahatey Ram. Later, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Communications and Railways, Manoj Sinha inaugurated a filtered drinking water facility for passengers at Silghat Town station. Flagging off the DEMU train, Rajen Gohain said the new service will greatly benefit the sub-urban commuters within a 200km radius by providing a faster, efficient daily link with the capital city of Guwahati, informed a press release from Pranav Jyoti Sharma, Chief Public Relations Officer, NF Railway/Maligaon. Railways, he said, is planning for more rail connectivity from Central Assam to the rest of the country. Gohain further mentioned that Silghat Town station was established in 1920 and is one of the oldest stations of NF Railway. As the station is going to complete 100 years in few years time, NF Railway has drawn up plans for up-gradation of the station including construction of high-level platforms and construction of Pit Line and Sick Lines. These works will be taken up in the current year, he said. The Minister of State for Railways, Manoj Sinha in his speech emphasised the developmental efforts of the Railway Ministry towards the North East and said that the investments in railway infrastructural works in the region had increased considerably during the last two years. Every year the railways also spend a considerable amount on providing better passenger amenities, he said. It was informed that NF Railway has approximately spent Rs. 22 core on new drinking water facilities in the last two years. Filtered drinking water through vending machines will be made available at 10 more stations during this year. Following the flagging off of the Silghat Town - Guwahati DEMU service, two other DEMU services are also being introduced. They are – (i) 75723 / 75724 Guwahati – New Bongaigaon DEMU via Goalpara Town in place of 55806/55806 Guwahati – New Bongaigaon Passenger & (ii) 75727/75728 Guwahati – Haibargaon DEMU in place of 55815/55816 Guwahati – Haibargaon Passenger train. The new DEMU trains have more seating capacity and the timings of the new DEMU trains are also chalked out in a way to make them convenient for people intending to come to Guwahati in the morning for various works and return by evening, the release added.
