Siliguri, Feb. 26: Senior officials of Northeast Frontier Railway today said five trains - two intercity express trains and three DEMUs - would originate and terminate at Siliguri Junction, instead of New Jalpaiguri, from March 1.
The move was taken to decongest the NJP, which is the largest station in north Bengal and the second largest in the Northeast after Guwahati.
"We intend to improve train services and maintain punctuality across north Bengal and the adjoining areas of our zone. That is why it has been decided to utilise the existing infrastructure at Siliguri Junction station. The decision, we feel would largely help daily commuters and passengers," said Sugato Lahiri, the chief public relations officer of Northeast Frontier Railway over phone.
The announcement by NFR officials came minutes after railway minister Suresh Prabhu tabled the rail budget.
In his speech, Prabhu mentioned that the government intended to raise satellite railway terminals in major cities where the existing terminals are in congested areas, to decongest the cities and provide service to passengers traveling in suburban areas.
According to NFR sources, over 50 passenger trains cross NJP everyday. There are six platforms at the station and a platform for the DHR toy train.
In Siliguri Junction, on the other hand, there are three platforms and a platform for the toy train. Another infrastructure which the railway officials have decided to utilise is the parallel route from Siliguri Junction to Aluabari Road through Bagdogra and Naxalbari.
"Most of the trains travel from NJP to Aluabari Road on the main route. But the parallel route from Siliguri Junction to Aluabari via Bagdogra and Naxalbari is fully operational now. This can be used to run intercity express trains and DEMUs to avoid congestion at NJP," a NFR official said.
From March 1, the Balurghat-NJP Intercity Express will run via this route, instead of the earlier route of NJP to Aluabari Road. Also, timings of some long distance trains have been changed in NJP and other stations, sources said.
