Naxalbari, 17th February: Fulfilling a long-pending demand, the Mahananda Express train has officially been given a stoppage at Naxalbari railway station. The new halt was inaugurated on Tuesday with a flag-off ceremony by Darjeeling MP Raju Bista.
Matigara-Naxalbari MLA Anandamay Barman was also present at the inauguration programme. Earlier, while the Kolkata-bound Kanchankanya Express had a stoppage at Naxalbari, residents had to depend on NJP station for travelling to Delhi. With the Mahananda Express now halting at Naxalbari, commuters from the region, as well as residents of Nepal and the hills, are expected to benefit.
Speaking at the event, the MP described the development as good news for Naxalbari. He stated that a total of nine trains currently provide passenger services at the station and added that the Capital Express will also have a stoppage at Naxalbari in the near future.
He further said that the central government is working collectively for the development of the area and expressed confidence that pending works would be accelerated if the BJP returns to power within the next three months.
During his address, the MP also took a swipe at the state government’s Yuva Sathi scheme without naming it directly. Meanwhile, local residents and business owners expressed happiness over the new Delhi-bound train stoppage.