Surti Bengalis upbeat about weekly train

While Surat had to be satisfied with just one train in Railway Budget 2012-13, it brought smiles on the faces of the Bengali community. A weekly train between Surat and Malda Town via Nagpur was announced by railway minister, a demand pending for long.

“There is considerable population of Bengalis in Surat and South Gujarat, but only two trains are available for Howrah. There is always a long waiting list for tickets in these trains. A new train will benefit passengers,” Suprabhat Chatterjee, member of Bengal Club in Surat, said.

Chatterjee claimed that Bengal Club had been fighting for a direct train from Surat to Howrah for past 15 years. Now that their demand is satisfied, they are eagerly waiting for the train to get started.

According to estimates, more than 6 lakh Bengalis are living between Bharuch and Vapi, who frequently travel to Howrah. The Ahmedabad-Howrah and Porbander-Howrah trains are always packed. Looking at the rush in these trains, many are demanding that Surat-Malda Town be converted into daily train.

“Even if train is made daily, it will get enough passengers. The rush for both the trains can be diverted to this train,” said Sunil Sarkar, a printing-master.