Silchar, Dec. 2: Several citizens' organisations are campaigning for the immediate introduction of six more trains along the Silchar-Guwahati broad-gauge route to keep up with the huge flow of passengers from the Barak valley, Tripura, Manipur and Mizoram.

The 210km Silchar-Lumding broad-gauge route was thrown open for the passenger trains on November 21. Currently, only two trains - one from Silchar and another from Guwahati - are being run on this track.

"The two trains are not at all sufficient. Reservation (for seats) on the trains is not available for this whole month. Therefore, more trains should be introduced soon along the route," said Ajoy Roy, convener of the Silchar-Lumding Broad Gauge Rupayan Sangram Committee, which spearheaded the movement to get the Silchar-Lumding broad-gauge project completed.

The groups want two trains - the Cachar Express and Barak Valley Express - that used to run along the earlier metre-gauge track between Silchar and Guwahati to be reintroduced. They also want four express trains - Silchar-Howrah, Silchar-Dibrugarh, Silchar-Delhi and Silchar-Chennai - to be started. The committee today urged the Union railway ministry to change the current schedule of the 55616 Silchar-Guwahati fast passenger train, which leaves Silchar railway station at 5am and reaches Guwahati at 5.15 pm.

"People from rural areas face a lot of difficulties to board the train, as it leaves early in the morning. If the departure time of the train is delayed a bit, then people can easily reach on time," said Hillol Bhattacharjee, a member of the committee.

Citizens of this town, who regularly travel on this train, also recently complained about the lack of a pantry car on the train. "It takes more than 12 hours to reach Guwahati. But there is no food available on the train. Water is also not available in the toilet and sink, which is really upsetting," said Sivashish Bhattacharjee, a resident of Silchar town, who recently travelled on this train.

Leaders of the Assam BJP today claimed that the railway ministry had said it would introduce two trains, Silchar-Howrah and Silchar-Delhi, along this route from January next year.