The deteriorating condition of the Goods Yard at Bhanga railway station in Karimganj has raised serious concerns among local traders of Silchar and the Karimganj Food Grain Merchants Association. Despite receiving approximately Rs 840 crore annually, railway authorities have failed to maintain the facility, leading to potential disruptions in the supply chain and increased costs for essential goods.
The Goods Yard's current state has forced traders to consider switching from rail to truck transport for bringing goods into the Barak Valley. This shift is expected to raise transportation costs, resulting in an estimated increase of Rs 5 per kilogram for various goods, which could significantly impact food prices in the region. Additionally, the railway stands to lose revenue worth crores of rupees due to this potential change.
The situation at the Bhanga Goods Yard is dire, with the area resembling a large pit filled with water and the ground beneath the train tracks eroded. Laborers are compelled to work under hazardous conditions, loading goods from waterlogged areas into trucks. Asit Datta, president of the Karimganj Food Grain Merchants Association, highlighted that loading a truck takes about four hours due to unsuitable loading spaces, making it impossible to unload within the allotted time. Consequently, traders face hefty fines, running into lakhs of rupees, for delays.
Complaints have been lodged with both the Karimganj district administration and the railway authorities, but no remedial action has been taken so far. The Bhanga Goods Yard serves as a crucial hub for wholesale traders from the three districts of Barak Valley, as well as parts of Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura, who rely on this facility for goods arriving by train from outside the state.
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