By TC News Desk
Agartala, 14th August 2025: After nearly a year of anticipation, the Kanchenjunga Express made its inaugural halt at Belonia Railway Station at 6:45 am on Thursday, marking a historic moment for South Tripura residents. The event drew a jubilant crowd, with music, applause and slogans echoing across the station premises as locals celebrated the long-awaited addition to the train’s route.
A formal ceremony was held to commemorate the new stoppage, attended by Rajya Sabha MP Rajib Bhattacharya, Cooperative Minister Shukla Charan Noatia, South Tripura Zilla Parishad Sabhadipati Dipak Datta, MLAs Swapna Majumdar, Dipankar Sen and Ashok Mitra, Belonia Municipal Council Chairman Nikhil Chandra Gope, District Magistrate Mohammad Sajad P and Badarpur Railway Area Manager Birendra Meena. The green flag was ceremoniously waved to signal the train’s onward journey toward Sealdah.
Later that morning, another milestone was reached as the Kanchenjunga Express officially began halting at Jolaibari Railway Station, an outcome of sustained efforts by Minister Shukla Charan Noatia. Previously, the train bypassed Jolaibari en route to Sabroom, causing significant inconvenience for local travelers. Responding to Noatia’s appeal, the Union Railway Minister approved the new stop, which came into effect Thursday.
A celebratory program was held at Jolaibari Station, attended by Minister Noatia, Jolaibari Block Panchayat Samiti Chairman Tapas Dutta, Santirbazar SDM Manoj Saha, Block BAC Chairman Ashok Mog, and social worker Sujit Dutta. Addressing the gathering, Noatia expressed gratitude to Union Railway Minister, MP Biplab Kumar Deb, State Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury, and Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha for their support in enhancing regional connectivity.
The arrival of the Kanchenjunga Express at Jolaibari was met with overwhelming enthusiasm, as residents welcomed the train with cheers and heartfelt appreciation—marking a significant step forward in the district’s transportation infrastructure.
