GUWAHATI: The suspension of local train service has hindered the lives of commuters in Assam.
The local trains offer a cheaper and convenient alternative to private buses. The most to be affected have been the people who commute from Guwahati to nearby districts in Upper and Lower Assam.
"We used to travel from Guwahati to Tezpur by local trains. Ever since the lockdown, services have halted or reduced," said Prabal Bharadwaj, a resident of Tezpur.
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The Leader of Opposition (LoP) Debarata Saikia has also written a letter to the Minister of Railways Piyush Goyal where he raised the issue. In that letter, he stated the issue has affected daily migrant workers.
"The series of lockdowns took their toll on the economically weaker sections of society in Assam, just as they did elsewhere in the country. Operation of normal train services is a dire necessity for such people when it comes to their daily livelihood," wrote Saikia.
However, passenger, unreserved, chair and short distance trains have not been operating in Assam and only some express, mail and special trains have been working.
G Plus spoke to an engineer from Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), who confirmed the development.
"It was closed due to Covid-19 so far but till now no new order to start the services has been issued" added the official.
He further revealed that the resumption of services will happen as the order for the passenger trains "might come".