1 hr ago
Bengal Adds Buses After Farakka Rail Track Subsidence
Heavy rain caused the railway track near Farakka to sink.
Because of this, some trains between southern and northern Bengal were cancelled.
The West Bengal government added buses to help people continue their journeys.
Twenty-three extra buses are running between Kolkata and Siliguri.
More buses were also added on routes to Balurghat and between Malda and Kolkata.
Special evening buses will travel from Kolkata to Siliguri.
Officials can arrange even more buses if many passengers need them.
They will also work with private bus operators and try to prevent unreasonable fares.
West Bengal deployed 23 additional buses on the Kolkata–Siliguri route after rail services were disrupted near Farakka.
Two extra buses each were added on the Durgapur–Balurghat and Kolkata–Balurghat routes.
Five bus services are operating between Malda and Kolkata, while a regular Malda–Siliguri service was extended.
Special evening buses will run from Kolkata’s New Esplanade Bus Terminus to Siliguri NJP Bus Terminus.
Heavy rain caused land subsidence between New Farakka and Kalidanga, leading to cancelled express trains and emergency transport measures.
- Who
- The West Bengal Transport Department, led in this announcement by Transport Minister Arjun Singh, along with state transport corporations and district officials.
- What
- Additional bus services were deployed after rail connectivity was disrupted by subsidence of tracks near Farakka.
- Where
- The disruption occurred between New Farakka and Kalidanga railway stations in Murshidabad district; replacement buses serve routes including Kolkata, Malda, Siliguri, Durgapur and Balurghat.
- When
- The rail disruption began on Thursday, and additional buses were deployed on Friday, September 4.
- Why
- Heavy rain caused land subsidence, affecting rail connectivity between north and south Bengal and prompting the cancellation of several express trains.
Key facts
- Additional Kolkata–Siliguri buses
- 23 buses were operated on Friday.
- Other added services
- Two additional buses each were deployed on the Durgapur–Balurghat and Kolkata–Balurghat routes.
- Malda–Kolkata services
- Five bus services were operating between Malda and Kolkata.
- Special evening route
- Buses run from Kolkata’s New Esplanade Bus Terminus to the Siliguri NJP Bus Terminus.
- Departure times
- 5:30 pm, 6:30 pm, 7:30 pm, 8:30 pm, 9 pm and 9:30 pm.
- Rail disruption
- Heavy rain caused land subsidence between New Farakka and Kalidanga railway stations.
- Further measures
- More state or private buses may be arranged based on passenger demand.
Quotes
Arjun Singh
West Bengal Transport Minister
“Passengers should not face inconvenience because of the disruption in rail services. We have immediately increased bus services on important routes and will deploy more buses wherever required.”
theprint.in
telegraphindia.com
“As many as 23 additional buses are being operated on the Kolkata-Siliguri route on Friday. In addition, an existing regular service has been extended from Malda to Siliguri.”
theprint.in
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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