In bid to enhance operational efficiency of the trains and to provide better communication services to the people living in the district, the Kathihar division of the North Frontier Railway on Monday introduced signalling system on the Balurghat — Eklakhi railway track in South Dinajpur district and also made a number of other infrastructural up-gradations in the section.
It is learnt that the entire section has been upgraded with provisions of modern safety equipments such as digital axle counters, fail safe block instruments and electronic interlocking system. An upgraded railway station has also been inaugurated at Rampur bazaar in the same section.
Meanwhile, the Balurghat station ticket counter has been also upgraded to a reservation ticket counter on Monday morning. “Senior officials of the Indian Railways were present to introduce all the modern facilities on the Eklakhi — Balurghat (87 Km) section on Monday. The interlocking system has been introduced in this section after a long time after it was first introduced by the Indian Railways. The Balurghat station was not facilitated with the interlocking system and train had to be dealt on ‘One Train Only system’ from Buniadpur to Balurghat which covers 44km distance. The section is now divided into two after introduction of the Rampur bazaar (interlocked) station between Buniadpur and Balurghat. These new introductions will effectively enhance operational services of the railway,” said sources.
Even after introduction of railway services on the Balurghat — Eklakhi section on 30 December 2004, the track remained underdeveloped. Single track line, insufficiency of trains, lack of infrastructure in the stations and most significantly, absence of signalling system remained a setback for the line.
A number of social organizations in South Dinajpur had raised their voices demanding proper infrastructure on the section. Only six trains run on the section now. Railway passenger’s organization of Balurghat in the meantime has demanded for more trains connecting Malda to Siliguri and Malda to Kolkata and Howrah, it is learnt.
“This very shameful that even after 14 years of introduction of rail services in South Dinajpur, we do not have a single station on the Balurghat — Eklakhi section with proper infrastructure. Passengers are suffering daily. Trains are running late. The railways, after a long gap has introduced the signalling system here. We hope that this will help in development of the operational management,” said the secretary of the Eklakhi — Balurghat Rail Unnayan Committee, Pijush Kanti Dev.
The chief signal and telecom officer, Kathihar division, Joginder Katach said, “Our only motto is the safety of the passengers. The signalling system will be upgrading communication and will help enhance operational efficiency of the section. We are also trying to solve the problem of unmanned level crossing in the section. The Eklakhi — Balurghat section is now capable of handling more number of trains with highest safety and integrity.”