Imphal, April 26: A four member team of the railways arrived here today at about 3 pm to inspect the gutted railway reservation counter at the MSRTC office complex.

The team will submit its findings to Eastern Railways, Kolkata for recommendation.

Soon after their arrival, the team consisting of two commercial officers, one accountant and a hardware engineer visited the gutted site and studied the degree of damage inflicted on the networking system of the counter.

The team will leave for Lamding tomorrow at 10 am.

Meanwhile, providing a ray of hope to frequent rail travellers, the Deputy Director of the State Transport Dept, BK Sharma today said that the railway authorities are contemplating the possibility of installing new equipment at the gutted reservation counter to resume services.

Operations at the counter have been suspended after the reservation counter was set aflame by MEELAL activists in the wee hours of Saturday.

Computers, a printer, cables, steel almirah and documents along with a cash of Rs 30,000 kept at the military counter were damaged beyond redemption in the fire.

Sharma informed The Sangai Express that the railway authorities have conveyed that they are willing to resume service if adequate security is provided at the counter to avert such incidents in the future.

A final decision will however be taken after assessing the damages, said Sharma adding that an understanding will also be worked out with the State Govt to re-open the counter.

The broad understanding at the moment is for the State Government to repair the damaged part of the building while the railways authorities will chip in by providing the needed equipments for the service to resume, said Sharma.

An agreement will also be inked between the State Govt and the railways authorities for the counter to resume service, he added.

Significantly the Manager-in-charge of the counter had on April 16 urged the Govt to provide adequate security following the torching of the State Central Library on April 13.Three lady Home Guards were put on duty at the counter during the day time.

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