Maligaon, August 28: In order to promote tourism and cultural heritage of the Northeast and North Bengal areas; two Vista dome Tourist special train services were flagged off today.
The special Vistadome train service between Guwahati – New Haflong was flagged off at Guwahati by Shri Bimal Bora, Minister of Sports and Youth Welfare, Cultural Affairs, Power and Tourism, Govt of Assam in presence of Smt. Queen Oja, Hon’ble MP Lok sabha from Guwahati.
Other official who were presence, Shri Debolal Gorlosa, Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the N.C. Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC). Shri Anshul Gupta, General Manager, N.F. Railway and other senior officials along with the Commissioner & Secretary and Director of the Tourism Department of the Govt. of Assam were also present.
In his speech Shri Bimal Bora, Minister in charge of the Tourism, Govt of Assam thanked the N.F. Railway authority for introducing such a world class service for the tourists visiting Assam.
He hoped that both International as well as domestic tourists will now be able to enjoy the abundant natural beauty of the Northeast with the fulfilment of this long standing requirement. Tourism sectors of the area will reap the benefit of this service.
He also called upon all stake holders’ specially local people to provide good hospitality to tourist by creating good environment so that more and more tourist can came and enjoy. Shri Debolal Gorlosa in his speech thanked N.F. Railway for the service.
He hoped that this service will help in transformation of the Dima-Hasao district and called upon people to properly maintain clean & Hygienic condition of this train so that tourist can come and enjoy.
Smt. Queen Oja, Hon’ble MP while thanking railways for the service hoped that this train will help in transformation of the tourism sector of the region.
As railways is the cheapest and the cleanest mode of transportation; tourist should be encouraged to use this service. The special Vistadome train service between Guwahati – New Haflong section will initially run two days a week – on every Wednesday and Saturday with stoppages at Manderdisa and Maibong stations.
The train will depart from Guwahati at 6-35 hours to reach New Haflong at 11-55 hours covering a distance of 269 kms through the North Cachar Hill region. During return journey, the train will leave New Haflong at 17-00 hours to reach Guwahati at 22-45 hours.
In another function that held at the New Jalpaiguri station Vistadome special train service between New Jalpaiguri – Alipurduar Jn was flagged off by Shri John Barla, Hon’ble Union Minister of State, Minority Affairs, Govt. of India. Dr. Jayanta Kr. Roy, Hon’ble MP Loksabha, Smt. Sikha Chatterjee MLA, Shri Sankar Ghosh MLA apart from other dignitaries was present.
In his speech, Shri John Barla, Hon’ble Union Minister of State thanked railways for such a good initiative for development of the tourism sector of the Dooars areas of North Bengal.
He hoped that a vast segment of people belonging to various sectors apart from tour operators will be able to benefit economically with more and more tourists coming into the region. Tourist will be able to enjoy the spectacular natural beauty of the Dooars area in the foot hills of the Himalayas along with visits to various wildlife sanctuaries and National Parks.
Initially this train will run three days a week – on every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It will depart from New Jalpaiguri at 7-20 hours to reach Alipurduar Jn at 13.00 hours covering a distance of 169 kms through the Dooars Hill region of North Bengal.
During return journey, the train will leave Alipurduar Jn at 14-00 hours to reach New Jalpaiguri at 19-00 hours. The train will have stoppages at Siliguri Jn, Sivok, New Mal Jn, Chalsa, Madarihat, Hasimara and Raja Bhatkhawa stations.
Northeast Frontier Railway hopes that the initiative to boost the tourism sector of Assam and North Bengal will be very well patronised by the local people as well as by the visitors from other states.
