Trains to ply during night in Naxal-hit areas soon

NEW DELHI: Running of passenger trains during night in Naxal affected areas of West Bengal and Jharkhand is likely to be resumed soon in view of "improvement" in law and order situation there.

The Home Ministry is expected to impress upon the Railway Ministry to resume the plying of passenger trains in night between Kharagpur in West Bengal and Tata Nagar in Jharkhand which was stopped since May 28 when the extremists targeted the Gyneshwari Express killing more than 110 passengers.

"Security officials posted on the ground suggested that law and order situation has improved significantly and trains can ply during night," an official said.

The Railway authorities have rescheduled the timing of nearly a dozen trains, including Gyneshwari Express, Mumbai-Howrah Mail, Samar Satta Express and Delhi Puri Purushottam Express, and avoid plying them during night in the Naxal-hit areas.

"If everything goes well, the trains may be allowed to run during nights soon," the official said.

Currently only freight trains are allowed to pass through the route during night.

The situation has improved significantly after the killing of top Maoist leader Kishenji and heavy presence of security personnel in the area.