Residents of Bamanhat and Dinhata, both located in Cooch Behar district, have submitted a memorandum citing a slew of demands before the authorities of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR).

On Sunday, members of Bamanhat Rail Dabi Samiti and Dinhata Rail Yatri Association submitted a memorandum to the station manager of Bamanhat station, seeking resumption of three popular local trains which were withdrawn during the Covid-19 pandemic and launch two daily passenger trains.

“We want the railways to resume Siliguri-Dinhata, Siliguri-Bamanhat DEMU Passenger and Alipurduar-Kamakhya Intercity Express, which hundreds of people in Cooch Behar and Alipurduar districts used to avail ahead of the pandemic. The decision to halt these train services has put them at inconvenience,” said Subhankar Bhaduri, who represents the association of railway users in Bamanhat.

“We also want two trains from Bamanhat to connect Balurghat and Alipurduar Junction. These trains would largely serve the purpose of daily commuters,” he added.

The railway users also mentioned that recently, the railway authorities have decided to replace the coaches of Bamanhat-Sealdah Uttarbanga Express with LHB (Linke Hofmann Busch) coaches.

“We welcome the decision. But simultaneously, the railways should add one
sleeper and one general coach with the LHB rake to accommodate more passengers. Also, it is necessary to increase the length of two platforms at Bamanhat station so that passengers don’t face any problem in boarding and disembarking from coaches,” said Raja Ghosh, convener of the Dinhata-based association.

They also mentioned that the electrification of tracks along the Bamanhat-New Cooch Behar stretch has not yet been done. “Also, parking and some other facilities at Bamanhat station has to be improved,” said Bhaduri.

Sources in the NFR said they are aware of the issues.

“The issues would be placed before appropriate authorities for consideration,” said a source.

Bamanhat and Dinhata stations are around 40km away from Cooch Behar.