Guwahati, Mar 18: BJP MP Dilip Saikia from Assam’s Darrang-Udalguri constituency has demanded that two long-distance trains be named after Srimanta Sankardeva and Srimanta Madhadeva, prominent Vaishnavite saints from Assam. Saikia made this request during the Demands for Grants debate on the Ministry of Railways’ 2025-26 budget, proposing that one train be named after Sankardeva for the Assam-Delhi route and the other after Madhadeva for the Assam-Chennai route.
He highlighted the saints’ significant roles in the cultural and religious history of Assam and urged the government to honor their legacy. Saikia also called for the introduction of a Vande Bharat Express train connecting Dibrugarh and Guwahati via Rangia and Udalguri, as well as a direct train service between Guwahati and Odisha for the 45 lakh people of Odisha-origin residing in Assam.
In addition, Saikia raised concerns about the lack of railway connectivity in Darrang district and sought updates on the status of his previous petitions. He also urged the restoration of halting points at several stations that were discontinued during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Saikia commended the Indian government’s historic allocation of Rs 2,65,200 crore for the Indian Railways in the 2025-26 budget and emphasized the government’s efforts to improve railway infrastructure in the country.
