A decision by the railways to cancel a long-distance express train that connects north Bengal with Calcutta for around a fortnight in the current month because of work on the tracks has impacted the tourism sector in the Dooars.

Sources in the railways said the Kanchankanya Express, which runs between Sealdah and Alipurduar, will remain cancelled from December 10 to 22. Also, two other trains which connect the region — the Padatik Express and Uttarbanga Express — will be diverted through other routes and hence will take more time to reach the destinations.

“It is unfortunate that the railways have made such a decision. Tourists will start pouring into the Dooars from the middle of this month and the trend will continue till the end of January. Many of them have made reservations in resorts and have even booked safaris in the forests. After the decision, a section of them have started cancelling their trips. The decision will affect the Dooars tourism industry,” said Biplab Dey, a joint secretary of the Dooars Tourism Development Forum.

Those associated with the tourism industry in the Dooars, especially in eastern Dooars which covers Alipurduar district and destinations like Buxa Tiger Reserve, Jayanti, Buxa hills and the Jaldapara National Park, mentioned that they were banking on the winter
season.

“A considerable number of tourists visit the Dooars instead of the hills during winters. There was a steady booking in the private resorts and government accommodations and even bookings were done for elephant safaris. But the cancellation of Kanchankanya, a train which hundreds of tourists avail, has changed the situation. The railway authorities should consider the situation and run the train, even if through an alternative route,” said Manab Bakshi, secretary, Alipurduar District Tourism Association said.

The train, sources said, has been cancelled for non-interlocking works in certain
areas of Howrah division of the Eastern Railway. Some other trains connecting districts like Malda, Murshidabad and the neighbouring state of Bihar have also been cancelled.

With such being the situation, the demand for bus tickets have soared, prompting
the North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC)
— a state-run transport corporation headquartered in Cooch Behar — to plan running special buses during this period.

“We will run special bus services from December 9 to December 22 from Calcutta to Siliguri and Alipurduar. In case there is a demand, we can arrange special buses to Calcutta from any location in the Dooars. This will help at least a section of tourists to reach their destinations and enjoy their trips,” said Partha Pratim Roy, the chairman of NBSTC.

He mentioned that if the railways extend the cancellation of Kanchankanya Express, they will extend the special bus services.