Railways to connect all northeastern state capitals by 2020


Posted on 17th Mar 2015 11:31 am by mohit kumar

Silchar (Assam), March 16 (IANS) The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), which is building rail infrastructure in the region, has targeted to connect all its eight state capitals by 2020, a senior official has said.

"We would connect all the state capitals of the eight northeastern states by railway link within 2020," NFR general manager (construction) Rakesh Kumar Singh told reporters here.

He said: "Mizoram capital Aizawl and Manipur capital Imphal would be connected by railway network by 2018 and 2019 respectively. The capitals of the remaining states would be linked by 2020 and the works are on to achieve the target."

Tripura's capital Agartala already connected by railway networks, even though line between Assam's Silchar-Agartala is meter gauge.

Agartala came up on the country's rail map in 2008. Currently, northeastern states have around 2,700 km railway line comprising meter gauge and broad gauge (BG) lines, officials said.

Singh, who was leading a 45-member NFR team, arrived in Silchar railway station from Guwahati on Sunday afternoon with the first nine-bogie railway trial inspection train, which left for Guwahati on Monday.

On Friday, the team said it successfully carried out trial run of a diesel engine from Lumding to Silchar on the newly-converted broad gauge (BG) line. The regular train service on the new BG line would be conducted from April after the clearance of Railway Safety Commissioner.

The total length of Lumding-Silchar BG line is 220 km and it consists of 17 tunnels (with longest one being 3.235 km long), 79 major bridges, 340 minor bridges, 28 railway stations and four halt stations.

The NFR general manager (construction) said now the Silchar-Agartala railway track would be converted from meter gauge to BG by March next year.

The foundation of the much-delayed gauge conversion project -- Lumding to Silchar and Silchar to Agartala -- was laid by the then prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda in Silchar in 1996.

In 2004, the then prime minister Manmohan Singh declared the project a national one.

The railways faced severe criticism for the delay in completing the Rs.5,185-crore project that is considered to be a lifeline for southern Assam, Tripura, Mizoram and Manipur.

Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu, during his budget speech in the parliament on February 26, said the Indian Railways was committed to provide rail connectivity to all the northeastern states.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Nov 29, 2014 flagged off a train between Meghalaya's Mendipathar and Guwahati, a distance of 131 km, and laid the foundation stone for a 51.38 km-long new broad gauge railway line between Bhairabi and Sairang in Mizoram.

On February 20, Modi flag off the first weekly air-conditioned express train service between Delhi and Arunachal Pradesh in Itanagar.



 

Did you know?Explore Trending and Topic pages for more stories like this.
0 Like 0 Dislike
Previous news Next news
Other news

Shah has great respect for PM Narendra Modi, did not say anything wrong; Satyapal Malik now clarified

Satyapal Malik has now clarified on his claim that Amit Shah has raised questions on the attitude

India seem to have covered all bases (Column: Just Sport)

Two starred questions to Mahendra Singh Dhoni during the World Cup by the itinerant Indian media

Shehnaaz-Janhvi: Ignoring Shehnaaz cost Janhvi a lot? Users said – Look at the attitude of Nepokids

Shehnaaz Gill is going to step into Bollywood through Salman Khan's film 'Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Ja

PAK army airstrike in Afghanistan: Pakistan targeted Taliban bases, 4 civilians killed

Pakistan's Airforce carried out airstrikes on Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) hideouts in Afghan

Adipurush: Such dialogues of Hanuman were deliberately written in 'Adipurush': Writer Manoj Muntashir's big statement on the controversy

The much-awaited film 'Adipurush' starring superstar Prabhas, actress Kriti Sanon and Saif Ali Kh

Kerala government, Congress-BJP open front in preparation for changes in Lokayukta Act

Kerala government is going to amend the Lokayukta Act. At the same time, the Kerala government ha

Salman Khan: 'I won't say much...' After the firing case, Salman Khan's video came from Dubai, 'Bhaijaan' was seen enjoying a belly dance.

There was a firing outside the house of Bollywood superstar and fans' 'bhaijaan' Salman

Then there is no need to keep fast', Shama Mohammed who called Rohit fat now came in support of Mohammed Shami.

Leader Shama Mohammed, who called Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma fat, has now made a st

Bomb Threats School: 40 schools in Delhi threatened to be bombed, panic created after the email; many schools closed

40 schools, including many big schools in the capital Delhi, have received bomb threats. DPS RK P

IPL 2025: Shreyas praised the bowlers for Punjab's victory, and Rajat held them responsible for RCB's defeat

Crediting the bowlers for the five-wicket win in the rain-affected 14-over match against Royal Ch

Sign up to write
Sign up now if you have flare of writing..
Login   |   Register
Follow Us
Indyaspeak @ Facebook Indyaspeak @ Twitter Indyaspeak @ Pinterest RSS



Play Free Quiz and Win Cash