Malda rail division to be shrunk

MALDA, Feb 9: Political leaders, including leaders of Malda traders’ body (MMCC), would launch movements against the Indian Railway Board's decision to form a new railway division based in Bhagalpur, Bihar. The new division would reduce the present territory under the Malda Railway Division. A letter from the Indian Railway Board was issued on 27 January, 2009 seeking a detailed project report on forming the new railway division at Bhagalpur, Bihar. A copy of the letter was forwarded recently to the concerned officials, including the Malda divisional railway manager.

The letter, sent by the executive director of the Indian Railway Board, Mr R K Bhatnagar, requested an estimated cost for the newly formed division, taking account of staff and the setting up a fully computerized ("paperless") office. Mr Bhatnagar specifically asked for details on the 'justification of territorial jurisdiction’ and ‘required infrastructure for the setting up of a new administrative organisation at minimal cost'.

The letter also stated that the railway board would negotiate with the Bihar state government over the required land in Bhagalpur. According to sources, the Northeast Frontier Railway has not agreed to the reduction of its territory, which currently extends from Old Malda to the Harishchandrapur-Bihar border. Large areas in Jamalpur and Bhagalpur, presently under the Malda Railway Division, would be ceded to the planned Bhagalpur Railway Division.In an attempt to balance this reduction, Malda Railway Division would be extended over new areas in Murshidabad district and Jharkhand. The top leaders of the Malda CPI-M have planned a convention on the issue, inviting political and trade union leaders, traders' bodies and common people to help obstruct the reduction of territory under the Malda Railway Division. The Intuc district president and chairman of the English Bazaar Municipality, Mr Narendranath Tiwari, is also against the plans: “We have asked the Malda MP, Mr A H Khan Choudhury, to look into the matter and help prevent the reduction of territory under the Malda division. If the reduction goes ahead, we will launch a rail roko movement against the railway board.” The district secretary of the MMCC, Mr Jayanta Kundu, said: “The railway minister hopes that his plans to form a new division in Bihar will win him political attention ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. We will protest against this attempt, and if necessary will block railway tracks in the district to ensure that our voices are heard.” n SNS