MP expresses concern over delay in construction of East-West corridor

From a Correspondent

Haflong, July 5: Expressing serious concern over the ‘delaying’ attitude of the NHAI in constructing the East-West corridor (Saurastra- Silchar), Cachar MP Sushmita Deb said she would definitely raise this issue in the Parliament.

Deb was here at Haflong on Tuesday to take stock of the situation of BG and Mahasarak, accompanied by the NHAI Project Director, Project Magers of HCC, NKC and JKM, Chief Administrative Officer, N F Railway and Chief Engineer, N F Railway. After reaching New Haflong Railway station she held a meeting with all the railway, NHAI and company officials and wanted to know why the NHAI had failed to keep the NH-54 E usable for the public. She then visited the Migrendisa site of railway, where the foundation of track was damaged due to heavy land slip followed by incessant rain resulting in disruption of rail services since May 16.

Talking to media persons, Deb said during the last two-and-half years, the NHAI had made less than zero progress in the construction of the East-West corridor. She argued that if the Railway could mage then why could not NHAI deal with the problems? She said both Lumding- Silchar BG and East-West corridor were the prime lifelines of the people of Barak Valley and Dima Hasao and even neighbouring States like Tripura, Manipur and Mizoram. Ajit Pandit, CAO, N F Railway disclosed that  track laying and linking in the diverted alignment  would be completed soon and rail services would be started before July 10 as targeted. He also said for few days there would be goods trains and after observing this the train service would be made open but with limited speed.