Chhotanagpur Passengers’ Association president Sanjiv Paul (second from right) addresses the meeting at Chambers Bhavan. Picture by Bhola Prasad

Jamshedpur, June 29: The Chhotanagpur Passengers’ Association today reiterated its demand of implementation of the Kandra-Namkum link railway line.

The members of the association passed a resolution in this regard at its annual general body meeting held at the Chambers Bhavan today. The members took an unanimous decision to pressurise the railways for executing the project that would reduce the travelling time between Jamshedpur and Ranchi.

The association also demanded introduction of a day train between Ranchi and Howrah via Tatanagar and a train between Noamundi and Buxar via Tatanagar. They also demanded replacement of broken air-conditioners in AC coaches of important trains including Steel Express, Janshatabdi and Howrah-Sambalpur Ispat Express.

General secretary of Chhotanagpur Passengers’ Association Arun Tiwari pointed out that on several occasions their demands had been brought up before the railway authorities.

“After the executive body meeting on March 15, the demands were sent to the Union railway minister, the chief minister, deputy chief ministers, president of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways and various MPs. But so far, no steps have been taken,” said Tiwari.

The association would hand over the four-point list of demands to the Union food processing minister Subodh Kant Sahay, he said.

“Sahay had earlier confirmed that he would attend our annual general meeting. But due to some urgency, he will not come. A delegation will soon meet him and hand over a memorandum highlighting our demands,” he said.

The demands of the association also came up for elaborate discussion during the recently held Zonal Railway Users’ Consultative Committee meeting in Ranchi.

The members also advocated construction of foot over-bridges. They stressed on improvement of passenger amenities in various railway stations under the Chakradharpur division of South Eastern Railway.