Dhanbad | Nov 10, 2017: The East Central Railway will run two pairs of MEMU (mainline electric multiple unit) passenger trains - one between the coal capital and Kusunda and another between Chandrapura and Sonardih, both located on the closed Dhanbad-Chandrapura line - from Friday.

Divisional railway manager of Dhanbad Manoj Krishna Akhauri said they had obtained permission from the railway ministry to run the trains for public convenience.

The train between Dhanbad and Kusunda, comprising eight coaches, will leave the coal town at 11.30am and arrive at its destination at 11.50pm. During its return journey, the train will depart from Kusunda at 12.05pm and reach Dhanbad at 12.25pm. The fare for each trip will be Rs 10.

"We had sent a proposal to the Union ministry to run a train on the 4km stretch where the Dhanbad-Chandrapura line in safe (from underground fire)," Akhauri said, stressing that the affected stretch was between Baseria and Tetulia.

Akhauri added that the other MEMU train pair would be rolled out on a 16km stretch. It will leave Sonardih at 1.05pm and reach Chandrapura at 1.33pm. On its return journey, the train depart at 12.18pm and arrive 12.36pm.

Train services on the 34km Dhanbad-Chandrapura line were suspended from June 15 after the Railway Board, on the basis of a survey report submitted by Directorate General of Mines Safety, decided to halt goods and passenger traffic on the 123-year-old tracks that had been rendered unsafe by coal fire.

The report, received by Railway Board on June 8, had said safety of 14km tracks passing through Baseria, Sendra, Bansjora, Katras Chotidih, New Akashkinare, South Govindpur and Tetulia collieries could not be guaranteed.

Fourteen stations, including Kusunda, Baseria, Bansjora, Sijua, Angarpathra, Katrasgarh, Tetulia, Sonardih, and Jamunia, are located between Dhanbad and Chandrapura.

More than 19 trains, including the 123-year-old Dhanbad-Chandrapura Muri Passenger, had had to be cancelled while five others were diverted following the closure of the railway line. Sixteen trains were later restored.

Several organisations have been protesting against the railway decision to close the line that has affected economy of areas like Katras.

(Source: https://www.telegraphindia.com/)