SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Nov 5: Fifty years old Dhanbad-Patna Damodar Express train, the lone direct link train between Bihar’s capital and the coal capital of the country, would lose its original identity from November 7.
As per the official notification, the train would merge with Dhanbad-Tata Nagar (Jamshedpur) Swarnarekha Express.
After arrival from Patna, the Ganga-Damodar train will stay at Dhanbad for 10 minutes and set out for Tata Nagar at the time of Swarnarekha Express.
The train will set out from Tata Nagar in the evening and reach Dhanbad at 11 pm. After a 20-minute stay, the train will run for Patna at its original return time of 11.20 pm.
Patna-Dhanbad Ganga Damodar Express train was launched on November 29, 1980. The officials said that the traditional coaches of the train have been replaced with LHB racks (Linke Hofman Busch). Earlier, Patna–Dhanbad Patliputra Express was the lone direct train between these cities. After starting of Ganga Damodar Express, the Patliputra Express train was extended to Ranchi.
Merger decision triggers protest
However, the merger of the Damodar Express train into the Swarnrekha Express has triggered sharp protests from all quarters of people, especially people in South Bihar districts who live in Dhanbad in large numbers.
Having seen the resentment of people, Dhanbad MP Pashupati Nath Singh met Dhanbad Rail Division manager (DRM) Ashish Bansal and protested the decision. He lodged the protest and asked to reconsider the decision saying that it would create problems for the people of Bihar who are living in large numbers in the region.
“Since the train would originate from Tata Nagar, its general bogies will be already filled up, resulting in poor passengers of the general class suffering for seats at Dhanbad. So, Railway should reconsider the decision and maintain the present status of the Ganga-Damodar train,” said Dhanbad MP.
Senior BJP leaders Milton Parthsarthi, Mithilesh Ram, Arun Singh, Rajiv Ranjan, Ajay Tiwary and Amit Kumar were other members of the delegation that met DRM.
