Sangram Committee concerned at low quality BG work

Special Correspondent

Silchar, January 29: Peeved and concerned at the low quality work and technically defective execution of Silchar–Lumding Broad Gauge, Sangram Committee of Barak Valley in a memorandum sent to the Railway Minister today has called for vigilance and fresh examition of the quality of the total work. The report of the Silchar–Lumding Broad Gauge Rupayan Sangram Committee is based on the on the spot visit and survey of the tracks, tunnels, bridges and the overall construction in its last phase of completion.

 The six month period of mega block on the more than century old metre gauge track to eble the construction of the BG line with its new alignment of 53 kms will be over by March this year. As assured by the Prime Minister rendra Modi and the then Railway Minister D V Sadanda Gowda, the BG would be completed by the end of March. And after all the technical and logistic examition, rolling down of trains, goods and passengers would be a matter of time.

But, the Sangram Committee has pointed out that though the work on the project is going on at full speed to make the BG track a reality and with that fulfill the long felt aspirations of the people of Barak Valley, Mizoram, Tripura and eastern Manipur. According to the memorandum, work at places is not being executed as per technical specifications and specific instances have been cited.

A portion of tunnel no.12 has collapsed recently and this has occurred for the second time. Tunnel no.16 has shown disparity of alignment during its fil implementation. This has been rectified after demolishing 8 metres of construction. Several such defects and drawbacks have been noticed which have only gone to expose low quality and technically inferior works. Along with that certain adverse geological phenome has also been observed as the terrain of the North Cachar Hills, now Dima Hasao District, is prone to tremors and is most unstable, particularly the stretches between Harangajao and Jatinga.

 Silchar–Lumding Broad Gauge Rupayan Sangram Committee which has been agitating since 2009 for the timely execution and completion as well as implementation of the project has become a platform for the people who have come forward with a number of complaints about the way the track is being laid down. The complaints refer to the different work sites of the project.

 In view of these drawbacks and in particular the low quality of work on a track which will have to sustain the load factor of wide bodied bogies and wagons which will pass through a number of tunnels and innumerable bridges, the Sangram Committee has every reason of apprehension of any mishap when the rolling stock starts chugging. Considering the serious of the matter involving the safety and security of passengers as well as the crew members in the cabin, it is important that the Railway Minister causes fresh quality testing of the whole track along with its technical aspects. The memorandum has been signed by Ajay Roy, Arungshu Bhattacharjee and Sushil Paul, representing the Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi wings respectively of the Sangram Committee.