Railway Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Lalu Prasad Yadav, amidst much fanfare on Friday, initiated train services between Samastipur and Narhan in the Samastipur-Khagaria division of the East-Central Railways by the push of a button while Samastipur MP Alok Mehta waving off the green flag.
The 86-kilometer Samastipur-Khagaria line with a 24-kilometer section between Samastipur and Narhan is dotted with 17 small and 2 long bridges making the journey more picturesque than most ordinary train travel.
Mehta said the new rail line would serve as a major relief for people in Samastipur and Khagaria districts particularly when the line is further extended up to Rosera that is expected to be completed by the end of next month.
The event, however, was not without some controversy because of the authority's decision to move up the inauguration by half an hour. While some of the invited guests missed out on the whole event, some dissatisfied passengers who were unable to take up the maiden journey ransacked the seating area and chanted anti-Lalu slogans.
Railway officials cited Yadav's busy schedule due to the upcoming 'Chetawani Rally' for the sudden change in the schedule.
Source: www.patnadaily.com, 29th Oct,2007
