BY TC News Desk
Agartala, September 12, 2023: My Home India, South Tripura team submitted two letters addressing the District Magistrate Saju Waheed A of South Tripura district with demands of declaring Belonia sub-divisional hospital as state general hospital and stoppage of all express trains at Belonia railway station.
A delegation of 9 members led by Suman Paul of My Home India, South Tripura Team submitted these two letters to the DM of South Tripura district Saju Waheed A on Tuesday.
In a letter, Paul mentioned “Belonia stands as one of Tripura’s oldest inhabited towns, once serving as a distinct division during the Manikya era. The Sub-Division Hospital in Belonia ranks among the state’s premier government health institutions. Geographically situated between Hrishyamukh and Rajnagar, the hospital caters to patients from a wide range of areas, including Srinagar, Madhabnagar, Samarendra Ganj, Amlighat in Poangbari RD Block, as well as Belonia Municipal Council and Bharat Chandra Nagar RD Block of 36 Belonia. It also serves Hrishyamukh RD Block, 37-Hrishyamukh, and the western hill region of Rajnagar RD Block under 34-Rajnagar. Even areas such as Monaipathar and Nidaya in Sepahijala District, falling under the Sonamura Sub Division and 23-Dhanpur Legislative Assembly, seek specialized treatment at different OPDs in the Sub-Division Hospital.”
“It has become the primary referral hospital for a significant portion of South Tripura District and surrounding regions, although it continues to grapple with shortages of doctors, paramedical staff, and nurses. While the District Hospital is located in Santirbazar and an AYUSH hospital in Sabroom, Belonia Sub-Division and its extensive population, spanning different Legislative Assemblies, remain in want of improved healthcare facilities. Given these circumstances, there is a pressing need to upgrade and designate Belonia Hospital as a State General Hospital, akin to IGM Hospital. Therefore, I kindly request your intervention and advocacy with the relevant authorities to initiate this transformation, addressing the healthcare needs of the region effectively”, he added.
In another letter, Paul also mentioned “We welcome the decision of extending the service of Sealdah-Agartala Kanchenjunga Express up to Sabroom as terminal station, which will benefit the people of Sabroom and adjacent areas. However, they have also expressed their desire to have the same facility at their station, which is a major transportation hub for the region. Presently, Belonia is blessed with the railway connectivity from North East Frontier Railway under Indian Railway. The station experiences maximum crowd among all other railway stations in the Agartala-Sabroom route. Belonia is also connected with an international gateway, as it has a Land Custom Office. A good number of international tourists from Noakhali, Feni, Laxmipur, Chattogram, Coxs Bazar, Hill Track areas use this corridor to travel to other parts of India. Geopolitically, it has great importance. Recently, the state government also looked for another international rail gateway from Belonia (India) to Feni (Bangladesh) for easy access to Chattogram Sea Port.”
“Under these circumstances, the residents of Belonia have appealed to the authorities to take some initiatives and take up the matter with the concerned authority to provide stoppage of all upcoming express trains at Belonia Railway Station. They have said that this will boost the development and connectivity of their town and district. They have also said that they deserve this facility as they are an important part of Tripura’s history and geography”, he added.
Based on these letters, DM Saju Waheed A is said to have assured the delegation that he will convey their demands to the Chief Minister Prof Dr Manik Saha, Transport minister Sushanta Chowdhury, Health Minister and Railway Minister of India.
