Tinsukia Railway Division Loses Rs 12 Crore amid CAA Protests

Tinsukia, January 9, 2019:

Amid the nationwide protests against the controversial amendment of the Citizenship Act, the Tinsukia Railway Division has incurred losses amounting to Rs 12.5 crores, as stated by the Divisional Railway Manager, Ashish Sharma. The public too has suffered greatly, with railway travel from Tinsukia to the other parts of the country being completely cut off amid the ruckus over the CAA.

After the Citizenship Bill took the form of an act, violent protests broke out in every nook and cranny of Assam, with miscreants indulging in open vandalism of public property. It can be argued that Tinsukia saw some of the most intense protests. On the night of December 11, when the Bill was passed in the Upper House, several railway stations under the Tinsukia Railway Division were fed to the flames by miscreants. According to reports, expensive machinery, railway posts, and even tracks were destroyed by the miscreants. Railway stations like Chabua, Panitola, and Dikom, which fall under the division, were the worst affected, reports said.

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As a result of the vandalism, the New Tinsukia Junction was cut off from the rest of the country, causing great distress to travellers residing in the area. Moreover, long distance trains have been completely stopped from the newly-revamped New Tinsukia Junction since December 12.

Although the locals are waiting with bated breath for the railways to resume services, local train authorities have been unable to pinpoint a date as to when the trains will re-commence their journeys to the other parts of the country. As of now, the trains are being operated from the Dibrugarh Railway Station, located at a distance of 50 kms from Tinsukia.

Speaking to Inside Northeast, DRM Ashish Sharma confirms that the Tinsukia Railway Division has incurred losses amounting to around 12.5 crores -- Rs 2.5 cr in property damage, and the rest Rs 10 cr in revenue. Sharma further informs that as long as the safety of the property cannot be ascertained, long distance railway services shall not be resumed.

Meanwhile, the New Tinsukia Junction Railway station, which once used to flag off dozens of trains, now wears a deserted look. The long queues in front of the ticket counters cannot be seen, and the buzz and rush at the railway station is also missing. From time to time, expectant passengers turn up at the ticket counters, asking when the trains will start running again, but they often leave in a state of disappointment. While talking to us, one of the people at the railway station disclosed that he has to leave for Muzaffarpur, but because of the prevailing issue, he has been stranded in Tinskukia.

"I have to go to Muzaffarpur, but the authorities informed me that I have to leave via Dibrugarh. The station has been closed for 15-20 days", said the man.

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