Jamshedpur, Feb 15: Despite repeated assurances, SER is yet to resume services of Tata Amritsar Jallianwala Bagh Express and Tata Jammu Tawi Express. The trains were stopped citing winter fog.
The biweekly train Jallianwala Bagh Express takes 33 hours to reach its destination, covering four states and 25 stations. The abrupt withdrawal of the train service from November 29 till February 28 had upset many passengers from the Sikh community in Jamshedpur and Adityapur areas who take this train to and from Amritsar.
Members of the Jharkhand Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (JGPC) and the Central Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (CGPC) launched demonstrations at the Tatanagar railway station, seeking restoration of the train service earlier this month.
Chairman Sardar Shailendra Singh said: “The resumption of the train will help scores of commuters who travel to Delhi Ludhiana and Amritsar among others.
The members of the community demanded immediate commencement of two trains citing the huge problems in getting to and from Punjab or other places due to the Tata Amritsar Jallianwala Bagh Express and Tata Jammu Tawi Express, which has been stopped.
Describing these demands as justified, DRM Vijay Kumar Sahu had assured to start these trains at the earliest by talking to higher officials. The Sikh community had also been demanding either a new direct Express train from Tatanagar to Amritsar or increase in the frequency of the train from bi-weekly to atleast four times a week.
“Over two lakhs Sikh population reside in Jamshedpur and adjoining Adityapur town who experience acute problems in booking berths on the train that connects to our most sacred place (Amritsar) directly. SER must immediately resume the trains,” said BJP leader Satveer Singh Somu.
18103 Jallianwala Bagh Express used to leave Tatanagar for Amritsar junction on Monday and Wednesday and the down train (18104) arrived here on Thursday and Saturday every week. The leader warned of taking to the streets if their demand is not heeded.
