Sangram Committee raises voice for altertive BG line

From Our Correspondent

Silchar, Feb 8: The Silchar-Lumding Broad Gauge Rupayan Sangram Committee (SLBGRSC), Cachar-Karimganj-Hailakandi, has been most vocal in the matters related to the implementation of the board gauge project. Of lately, the members of the Committee have opined that governments have shown a step motherly attitude towards Barak Valley. They have stated in a press release that Rajen Gohain’s, State Minister for Railways, proud proclamation and tall talks regarding the provision of various schemes and plans for the valley, falls well short. It has been seen that Barak Valley usually does not comes under the purview of any developmental plans, programmes and schemes.

Such attitude on the part of the authorities concerned as well of the government, has been severely condemned by the members of the Committee. They have urged upon the people to raise their voice and organize a mass movement against government’s apathy and sense of negligence. It has been stated that though the work has been completed after 18 years of protests and demonstrations, the work is not flawless and has a chink in its armour. The inordite delay, apathetic tendency and mentality have caused difficulties for the people of Barak Valley and its neighbouring states. The BG line work, though now completed, was almost left half done. At present, the services, stated in the press release, are not to the mark.

Compared to the other states of the country, rail services of this part, falls well short of being perfect. The possibility of fast trains is very less and it seems a mirage for the people. The condition and ture of the soil is so poor that the experts could do nothing about it. It suggests that the possibility of double line is out of proportion. The situation worsens during rainy season. Passenger trains are the lifeline of the valley, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura. In this regard, the Committee has been raising voice for constructing an altertive line, from Chandrathpur-Lanka route, for reaching Guwahati.

The proposal for the altertive line was tabled and unimously accepted at the 4th mass convention held at Hailakandi on February 8, 2016. The memorandum was also given to the then Railway Minister. However, nothing much has been done in this regard. The loopholes have not been taken care of. In the year 1984, the then Railway Minister suggested the building of a new BG line, after thoroughly surveying the area. The absence of an altertive BG line is affecting the economic development of the valley as well as of its neighbouring states.

In this regard, the Committee members have urged upon the people to organize movement on large scale basis. Small schemes, as stated by the Committee members, are consolatory prizes given to pacify the people. The members have cautioned if immediate steps are not taken, they will adhere to series of protests and mass demonstrations.