Statesman News Service
MALDA, 9 MARCH: They may be allies at the top but when it comes to local interests, spiking each other is an accepted practice between the Congress, Trinamul and their frontal organizations.
Displaying so, Chhatra Parishad (CP) activists today blocked trains at Gazole station in Malda district this morning demanding a stoppage of the Balurghat-Kolkata Tebhaga Express.
The Tebhaga Express runs trice a week. It does not stop at Gazole. The CP withdrew after a senior railway official of the Katihar division, Mr S Shukla, ensured their demand would be forwarded to the higher authority for consideration.
“The number of trains is scant in the area. With no stoppage at Gazole, the people of the area are forced to avail of the train from Malda Town Station. Despite several reminders to the railway authority, Gazole was not sanctioned as a station for the Tebhaga Express train. We had no alternative but to stop the train at Gazole station today demanding the stoppage”, said Mr Prem Choudhury, CP secretary, Gazole block.
According to him, the blockade was withdrawn after senior railway officials Mr S Shukla gave assurance on the matter in writing. Incidentally, this was the third time political parties and locals blocked tracks at Gazole demanding stoppage of the train. In additional to the stoppage, the CP has also demanded development of the Gazole Railway Station including construction of platforms, passengers’ shed drinking water facility, sanitation , repairs of the road connecting the station with the Gazole town. The agitators alleged that the railway had sanctioned stoppage of the Tebhaga express at Gangarampur and Buniadpur in South Dinajpur and at Eklakhi Junction in Malda but not in Gazole.
“The people of Gazole and its adjoin areas find it difficult to go to Eklakhi in Gazole block due to communication problem and are forced to go to Malda, which is 26 km from Gazole, by road to avail of the train”, the agitators pointed out.
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