Pressure mounts for station's renovation

MALDA, 22 JUNE: District leaders across the political spectrum in Malda are taking initiatives for restructuring Khaltipur railway station.

Apart from the Left Front constituents, the Opposition Congress and the Trinamul Congress are also putting pressure on the Union rail ministry over the matter. The demands include a computerised reservation centre and stoppage of important trains moving through this station.

The CPI-M will stage a Rail Roko as part of same demand on 2 July. The date has been fixed keeping in mind the presentation of the rail Budget by the new railway minister Ms Mamata Banerjee.

Announcing the agitation programme, Kaliachak-based CPI-M leaders, including the party MLA, Mr Biswanath Ghosh, said they would pressure the railway ministry to take up the much awaited renovation of the particular station.

Interestingly, the South Malda MP and former Kaliachak MLA Mr AH Khan Choudhury has included the renovation demand of the Khaltipur railway station in his 14- point charter of demands recently submitted to the Union railway minister.

Earlier, the former Trinamul Congress district president, Mr Dulal Sarkar, raised the Khaltipur railway station renovation issue while leading a deputation to the party chief on 13 June in Kolkata.

Even the Forward Bloc blocked railway track at Khaltipur station just after Miss Mamata Banerjee took charge.

Apart from the political pressure being mounted the Kaliachak Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce has also been in the forefront of demanding prompt renovation of the station. ;SNS