SILCHAR, Dec 16 - There were euphoric scenes at the Silchar Railway station on November 21 as the first passenger train chugged off for Guwahati materialising the long cherished dream of the 40 lakh people of the Barak Valley.
However, as the opening the Silchar-Guwahati fast passenger train is nearing one month, there are people disappointed for not getting tickets to embark on the solitary train. According to statistics available from the station officials, the regular passenger train services began from November 23 and as many as 28,160 passengers have travelled on reservation seats from Silchar till December 14, while 11,633 tickets were sold for general compartments.
�One train is certainly not enough for 40 lakh people. There is great indiscipline among passengers who try to jostle even in reservation compartments,� said one Rakesh Paul after returning from Guwahati on Wednesday afternoon.
Meanwhile, amid the burgeoning rush of passengers, the people have questioned on the intention of the Railway Ministry on the delay in introducing more trains from Silchar. It may be mentioned that there were reports of introducing express trains like Kanchanjunga and Samparkkranti later this month.
�If so many passengers can come and go to Guwahati what is causing the delay to bring more trains here,� echoed a section of people. On the other hand, the Silchar-Lumding Broad-gauge Rupayan Committee has raised questions on the role of �transport lobby� in delaying the start of multiple trains.
