Dibrugarh: In a public meeting held on Tuesday, citizens of Dibrugarh and Northeast Frontier (NF) Railway officials gathered to deliberate the fate of the 141-year-old Dibrugarh Town Railway Station (DBRT). A majority of residents advocated for its closure and the consolidation of services at the new Dibrugarh Railway Station (DBRG).
The historic station, established in 1883, currently serves only two trains: the Dibrugarh-New Delhi Rajdhani Express and the Dibrugarh-Ledo DEMU. In contrast, 36 other trains operate from the newer Banipur facility, which opened in 2009. The station is slated to add three more services, including the prestigious Vande Bharat Express.
Dibrugarh MLA Prasanta Phukan, who has been spearheading the campaign for closure, spoke about the infrastructural challenges posed by the old station. He highlighted how the railway line from the old station has effectively bisected Dibrugarh town into two parts, creating severe congestion at multiple railway crossings.
"The railway tracks running through the town have created severe bottlenecks, leading to constant traffic jams and accidents. This causes immense inconvenience to commuters, students, and patients alike. The Banipur station offers superior facilities, including systematic parking arrangements and state-of-the-art amenities. It makes logical sense to consolidate all operations there," Phukan said during the meeting.
The proposal to close the station has garnered support from urban planners and citizens who see an opportunity to address the town's pressing infrastructure needs.
"Dismantling the old station would free up considerable space. This area could be utilised for constructing a double-storey parking facility, addressing our acute parking shortage. Additionally, a Railway Museum can also be constructed at the site given its heritage value. This would preserve its historical significance while attracting tourists," the MLA suggested.
The Dibrugarh Railway Station at Banipur, situated just 5 km from the town's centre, currently handles the bulk of rail traffic. Railway officials confirmed plans to introduce three new services: the Vande Bharat Express, Dibrugarh-Gaya Express, and Dibrugarh-Ayodhya Express in the coming days. At the end of the meeting, railway officials assured the citizens that their feedback would be carefully considered before making any final decision about the future of the old railway station.