Guwahati: Indian Railways have drawn up a plan to provide connectivity to all capitals of North Eastern states by 2020. So far, only three state capitals in the N-E region – Guwahati (Assam), Agartala (Tripura), Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh)- are connected to the railway network which has Mendipathar in Meghalaya and Dimapur in Nagaland in the loop.
A communiqué issued from the headquarters of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) here informed that the Railways had drawn up plan to expand its network in the strategically located frontier region of the country.
The railways have made spectacular achievements and created engineering marvels despite challenging geological conditions, difficult terrain and adverse law and order situation in the region.
In view of the importance of given to the N-E region, as many as 11 railway projects have been declared national projects which receive uninterrupted funding from the Central Government. In 2014-15, more than Rs 5200 crore was provided for network expansion in NE Region.
Again in 2015-16, an all-time high outlay of over Rs 5300 crore has been provided for this purpose. Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to Guwahati to flag off first train on the new railway line from Dudhnai in Assam to Mendipathar in Meghalaya thereby bringing Meghalaya on country’s railway map. The Prime minister also laid the foundation stone for new railway line from Bhairabi to Sairang which will provide railway connectivity to the Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram state.
Considering the strategic importance of this region, Modi visited this region again in February, 2015 and inaugurated a direct train connecting Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh with the national capital.
The Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu recently flagged off first Broad Gauge goods train on completion of Lumding-Silchar broad gauge (BG) line providing seamless BG rail connectivity to Assam’s Barak valley with the rest of the country. The passenger trains on this section will be started soon after the necessary clearance from Commissioner of Railway Safety. The entire North Bank of Brahmaputra has been brought on Broad Gauge with completion of Rangiya – Murkongselek Gauge Conversion project.
“Railways have brought about massive changes to China’s economy. The per capita income of that country is now five times that of India, and most of it is because of railways. Expanding the railway network across the North-eastern region was a priority of the present government,” Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said here recently while gracing the 60th Railway Week National Awards function held at the IIT Guwahati auditorium.
