July 30, 2018
Partha Pratim Roy demands resumption of railway connectivity via Lalmonirhat junction
FULL TRANSCRIPT
Thank you Madam, for allowing me to speak.
Before the partition of India happened in 1947, there was a rail link to Lalmonirhat junction, which is now situated in Bangladesh, through Gitaldaha and Mogolhat. Till 1955, the railway link existed when there were talks between India and Pakistan for resumption. Later this route had been disbanded by the government as the talks were not successful.
In 1971, Bangladesh had been formed and India maintains a good diplomatic relationship with the neighboring country and runs passenger train service Maitree Express between Bangladesh and India.
Therefore, I sincerely request the Government to renew and restore the railway link which connects north-east India to others parts of India via Bangladesh. The proposed route will be the shortest route for people to travelling from Gitaldaha, Alipurduar, Coochbehar to Kolkata via Lalmonirhat in Bangladesh. The travel time through this new route would be less than half the time spent currently. This would be hassle-free for people of north Bengal and north-east India.
