Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) to modernize the New Jalpaiguri (NJP) railway junction

According to sources of the Indian Railways, the New Jalpaiguri (NJP) is one of the 204 stations of the country identified for an upgrade. This would translate into excellent features for passenger comfort. This station is the largest of this region and the busiest of the NFR zone. Work has started on shifting of ticket counters along with the parcel and RMS offices. Shifting of the existing parking area is also on the cards. The tentative plan is to finish the work by 2025. That is what the chief public relation officer of NFR informed. NJP, located on the southern end of Siliguri, is among the top 100 stations of India in terms of railway bookings. After the upgrade, the station with its new infrastructure would have the capacity to handle over 70,000 passengers per day. At present, it handles as many as 36,000 passengers on any average day. The introduction of modern amenities would provide an airport-like feel and comfort to passengers. Centre plans NJP railway junction revamp. The station also has the narrow gauge track of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), which is on the list of UNESCO world heritage sites. There will now be new foot over-bridges, separate arrival, and departure lobbies.

The business community of this region, including stakeholders of the tourism industry have welcomed the announcement by the NFR. These would give a boost to the local economy and contribute to development of the tourism sector. This happens to be a major industry in the region and is the third major decision made by the Centre to improve infrastructure for better connectivity in the region. A few weeks earlier, the Union minister of road transport and highways initiated the work of a 13-kilometre-long, four-lane road to connect the northeast and northwest ends of Siliguri via Darjeeling More. There are plans on the anvil for the expansion of the Bagdogra airport.

Some popular stories of this blogger –

NASA says Artemis I Mission is proceeding as per plan

England on alert - the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) warns flooding from heavy rainfall could double in the next three decades

The Sunderbans in the delta of the Ganges in West Bengal plans to introduce home stay in order to improve tourism

Mauna Loa volcano, the world’s largest active volcano, erupts for the first time in nearly four decades

UNESCO want to assign endangered status to the Great Barrier Reef, Australia does not agree

Police in Alberta, Canada, chase ostriches escaped from their enclosure, one of the birds killed when hit by a car

President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan quits as head of the governing Democratic Progressive Party after loss in election

International Space Station to grow tomatoes, SpaceX will carry the seeds

Kim Jong-un seen in public with his daughter, speculations are rife on her future

A cat has nine lives, I have many more – 3

The story I will narrate now is about my experience with death on a train. It happened in 1975 when I was traveling with my family from Nashik to Kolkata during summer. The train was the Mumbai-Howrah Mail via Nagpur and the duration of the journey was 33 hours. It left Nashik Rosd at around 11.30pm and reached Howrah at around 8.30am on the day after next. In those days, there was a limited catering service of the Indian Railways for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Usually, its patrons were single travelers because the families carried their own food and adequate stock of water. Flasks and water bottles were in demand because bottled water had not yet entered the scene.

On that memorable journey, my quest for water left me literally hanging. Our train was approaching Nagpur. The stock of water was exhausted and the train stopped at a station. I saw a water filling point opposite our compartment. I took the flask, got down, ran towards the water tap and filled the flask. By that time, the train had begun to move and I ran but my compartment had passed me. In desperation, I got up on the nearest footboard and clutched the handles. My palms were wet with perspiration and it was difficult to remain in that position for a long time. I was prepared for a worst-case scenario but was relieved when the train gradually stopped. I did not know the reason – should get down or should I not? It was then that I noticed a group of men running in my direction. They were fellow passengers who saw the plight of my wife when I missed the train. They had pulled the chain to stop the train and gave me a new lease of life.


Popular stories on this and related sites –


A cat has nine lives, I have many more – 2

A cat has nine lives, I have many more – 1

Old age home for senior citizens

Health is an important issue for senior citizens above 60

Senior citizens in the world of smart phones and credit cards

Bollywood film industry celebrates Holi, the festival of colors, to welcome spring

Uttar Pradesh celebrates Holi, the festival of colors, to welcome spring

Rajasthan celebrates Holi, the festival of colors, to welcome spring

Prince Harry does not have any plan to visit Britain in March

Home delivery cooked meals – an example of work from home

Bread in its myriad forms in our lives

The other day I suddenly remembered the poem of Sukumar Roy – it was all about the wonderful combination of pauruti aar jhola gur. Pauruti is better known as bread but, in the times of the poet Sukumar Roy, sliced bread was unknown. The bread used to in the shape of a rectangle pillar with a crusted mound on top – that used to be of a dark brown color. These breads used to come in different weight basis – usually quarter pound, half pound and one pound. That used to be the measure of weight.
So much so for the pauruti part. Now for the jhola gur – this is actually palm syrup and extracted by tapping the juice from the palm tree. It is an unadulterated form of sweetness that can make any person pine for more. And, the combination of pauruti dipped in the jhola is unparalleled in taste. As the poet has himself certified – it is the best of the best.
Anyway – with the progress and development all around us, jhola gur has vanished from the scene and the bread of the good old days have also undergone transformation. It is the age of sliced bread – the white one and the brown one.
In the trains, the railways dish out bread-butter sandwich with omelet for breakfast – by the time the stuff reaches the passenger, the butter goes invisible. It was there, must have been there, but – it must have melted and gone into the pores of the bread. A case of lost in transit.
At home one can apply the butter liberally and, sprinkle some salt, black pepper and sugar over it and slap another slice of bread equally buttered. Then float into heaven as you take one bite and then another.

Another wonder preparation of bread is the French toast – it is not known whether it actually originated in France but, this delicious item can add glamour to the breakfast. Slices of bread dipped in a batter of eggs and fried creates a dish that just cannot be put down. The batter is made of beaten eggs with chopped onions and garlic added with a pinch of salt, sugar and a couple spoonful of milk. The bread slices are dipped in the batter and fried – the end product with frills (of egg) all around it looks like an out-of-this-world product. (to be continued …)
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

Some more interesting 'must reads'-

Gold smuggling route to India via London - courtesy airline staff

Rat inside Air India’s Dreamliner forces it to abort flight to Milan and return to Delhi

How to improve digestion through proper food items


Ajay Devgn - new look in Drishyam

Salman Khan’s ‘Bajrangi Bhaijan’ is the talk of the town – the cash box is ringing

Jena Malone to appear in the role of Batgirl in Batman v Superman


Gun battle in Multan – Pakistan police eliminate Sunni militant leader and 13 others

Man of Agra kills four minor girls to cure his mentally ill wife on advice of tantrik

ISIS targets Indians in Libya – four teachers returning to India kidnapped


Influence of Bengali culture on Hindi movies

Prawns are the prized catch of the kitchen

How green is our Indian food menu