CM urges Railways Minister to expedite goods train service resumption 

Agartala, May 08, 2024, By Our Correspondent

Agartala, May 8 : Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha has urged Union Railways Minister Ashwani Vaisaw to expedite resumption of goods train service through Jatinga with the northeastern state facing severe fuel crisis, an official said on Wednesday.

The goods train service to the northeastern state remained snapped from April 26 after derailment of a goods train in Assam’s Jatinga triggering fuel crisis. The state has already imposed restriction on selling of petrol and diesel to tide over the situation.

“Keeping in mind of the fuel shortage to the state, Chief Minister Manik Saha wrote a letter to Union Railways Minister Ashwani Vaisaw on Tuesday urging him to restore goods train service. The Chief Minister is personally monitoring the situation and hopeful of resuming the service by next two or three days”, said an official of CMO (Chief Minister’s Office).

Tripura’s Transport Secretary, UK Chakma said the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has sought time till May 10 for resumption of goods train service through Jatinga in Dima Hasao district.

Responding to the fuel crisis, Addl Secretary of Food & Civil Supplies department, Nirmal Adhikari said 84 oil tankers are supplying petrol and diesel to the state after disruption in goods train service.

“We are able to bring only 40 percent of state’s total daily requirement of fuel by oil tankers. Therefore, there will be shortage of fuel until goods train service is restored. The present stock is set to be exhausted by tomorrow evening. Only hope is that NFR is trying to bring a train carrying fuel from Bongaigaon. If it sails through jatinga, the shortage will come down soon”, he said.