New Delhi, March 27 (IANS) Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu on Friday inaugurated the landmark Lumding-Silchar broad gauge rail line by flagging off a goods train from here over video-conference, bringing Assam's underdeveloped Barak Valley on the broad guage map.
Passenger train services on this route will start soon.
The 210-km line is expected to change the landscape of the Barak Valley. It will later be extended to Tripura.
The line, considered a lifeline for the entire region, is crucial for the supply of foodgrains, fertilizers, petroleum products and other essentials from the rest of India.
The minister said opening the Lumding-Silchar line marked a historical day and he was happy to be a part of this history.
It will accelerate development as it is the "lifeline of Barak Valley and the states of Tripura, Manipur and Mizoram", Prabhu said after flagging off the goods train.
"I have flagged off a goods train and soon passenger train services will also start... This will also ensure movement of essential commodities like foodgrains, fertilizers and petroleum products in this area."
The Lumding-Silchar line is a milestone for connectivity in the northeast region and one of the largest gauge conversion projects of Indian Railways. It cost Rs.3,500 crore.
The project was completed despite difficult hilly terrain, geologically unstable hills and law and order challenges. A number of railway employees died while working on the project.
After gauge conversion of the Guwahati-Lumding line in 1994, the transhipment point got shifted from Guwahati to Lumding.
The Lumding-Silchar Gauge Conversion Project under the Northeast Frontier Railway was sanctioned in 1996-97 and was declared a National Project in 2004.
The project was hit by insurgency from 2006 to 2009. The Territorial Army had to be deployed to take on the insurgents.
China was careful in the report! Told to be ready for 'war' with America
Beijing: An internal report has warned that anti-China sentiment is at its peak globally. According to Reuters, the report warns that China (China) is facing increasing malice in the wake of the
UGC Controversy: 'Taking decisions without consultation is a habit of the government,' Kapil Sibal said this about the UGC rules, and also commented on the RTI.
Amidst the ongoing controversy surrounding the UGC's parliamentary regulations, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal launched a scathing attack on the central government. He stated that the government's
Flex-Fuel: Get ready to drive a flex-fuel engine next year, know why
Indian car or two-wheeler buyers will soon get a chance to buy their favorite vehicle with a flex-fuel engine. If the advice of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari is implemented in time, then vehicles with
Rajvir Jawanda's last post on social media went viral after his death; the singer is seen in this style.
After battling death for 11 days in the hospital, Rajveer Jawanda finally lost the battle for life. He passed away today, Wednesday, at Fortis Hospital in Mohali. Following his death, his last social
Maharashtra Politics: Hearing on 16 rebel MLAs postponed, court restrains both factions from taking any decision in disqualification case
Amid the political upheaval in Maharashtra, the Shinde faction has got a big relief from the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has postponed the hearing in the disqualification case of 16 MLAs of the
'Your father's...' Mallikarjun Kharge got angry at the former Prime Minister's son in Rajya Sabha, uproar in the House.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge suddenly got angry while addressing the Rajya Sabha. He vented his anger on the former Prime Minister's son and BJP MP Neeraj Shekhar. When he was giving a
ABCD of politics: Amit Shah said- A means crime and terror for SP, Akhilesh Yadav responded by releasing a video
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Kanpur on Tuesday. He inaugurated the metro here. Apart from this, several other schemes were also inaugurated and the foundation stone laid. Addressing the public
Rafale in India: India's 'Bahubali' Rafale will come to Ambala in a while, eyes are on across the country
During border dispute with China, India's Bahubali i.e. Rafael is coming to India today. In the afternoon, the first fleet of 5 Rafale planes will land at Ambala airbase in Haryana this afternoon, due
Nabanna Abhijan Rally: Howrah Bridge closed, grease applied on iron gate; Kolkata Police's tactics to stop the protest
Students are marching to the State Secretariat (Nabanna Abhiyan) on Tuesday in protest against the incident of brutality with a junior female doctor in RG Kar Medical College Hospital. This campaign
13 MPs do not want Liz Truss to be British PM, what can be ousted from power? rules are not easy
Britain's Prime Minister Liz Truss is hanging the sword of being removed from her post. 13 of his MPs are against him. Liz Truss sacked Finance Minister Quasi Quarteng earlier this week in a bid to
