Title - Hill Queen Express gears up to chug through Barak Valley

SILCHAR: A number of social organizations in the Barak Valley area of Assam have welcomed Northeast Frontier Railway's move to extend the route of Lumding-LowerHaflong Hill Queen Express train up to Silchar.

The organizations, on the other hand, have criticized some of the Dima Hasao-based NGOs, who are out to oppose the extension of the train.

NFR authorities have decided to extend the service of the 05697/05698 Hill Queen Express train to Silchar from March 1 in response to the demands raised by different quarters of Barak Valley, Mizoram, Tripura and Manipur areas. This will be in addition to Barak Valley Express, Cachar Express and Agartala-Lumding passenger trains that have been plying on this section. The demand was raised in the wake of high volume of passengers on this route. The three trains, currently operating on the route, are not sufficient to meet the rush of passengers.

While the Hill Queen Express at present runs a distance of 104km, it will now cover a stretch of 214 km between Lumding and Silchar when the service begins from March 1.

All Barak Youth and Students Association (Abysa) has welcomed the decision of NFR authorities to extend the journey of the train. But it has expressed its dismay over the voice raised by some sections in Dima Hasao against the extension. Abysa chief convener Baharul Islam Barbhuiya on Friday said it's sad that in an age of globalization, a section of people in Dima Hasao are opposing the extension of the Hill Queen Express from Lower Haflong to Silchar. He said the extension of the journey of the train will benefit the people of southern Assam and the adjoining states as a whole. People living in southern parts of Dima Hasao will also benefit from the extension of the train. It will not only help the passengers, but also help boost trade and business between Haflong and Silchar and beyond, the Abysa functionary added.

Barbhuiya said the organizations who are opposing the good deeds of NFR are not friends of Dima Hasao and the region as a whole. "Those opposing the extension of Hill Queen Express were instrumental in delaying the works of much-waited Lumding-Silchar broad gauge project. The attitude of some of the people in Dima Hasao is against the larger interest of this part of Northeast," he said. Abysa urged upon the NFR authorities not to bow down under any pressure, which will derail development of railway network in this region.

Some NGOs including Haflong-based Public Service Forum, Maibang Disru Cultural Club, etc threatened to disrupt train services on Lumding-Silchar section if services of Hill Queen Express train, which was introduced in February, 2008 is extended to Silchar.

Meanwhile, Debojit Thaosen, chief executive member of North Cachar Hills autonomous council recently told TOI that he welcomes the move of extending the Hill Queen services to Silchar.