Wind trial inspection train reaches Silchar

Special Correspondent

SILCHAR, March 15: After the trial run of BG engine on the newly laid down track up to Silchar last night amidst rousing reception at all the stations on the way in course of its 210 km run, the chugging in of a 9 bogie wind trial inspection train this afternoon on platform no.2, it is now more or less a green sigl for throwing open the traffic, passenger and goods, by March 31 as committed by the NF Railway.

 According to a high railway official, if nothing otherwise happens, the people of this valley can expect regular run of up and down trains. In fact, the bottleneck in communication links of this valley and the hinterland areas of Manipur and Mizoram as well as Tripura with the rest of the country has been a painful experience for the commuters in particular bound for short and long distance journey. Besides, they have had the worst experiences of being detained in the hilly terrain for days during the monsoon. Opening of BG will no doubt be a new vista of communication and development.

 Led by R K Singh, General Mager (Construction), NF Railway, the wind trail inspection train has other high officials. The 9 bogie train as the me suggests will carry out all the inspections, general and technical, of the tracks, sigling system as well as other operatiol details. It will be a sort of strict observation and monitoring of the entire system on the track on which depends the smooth and easy run of rolling stock.

 With the by-passing of the most critical track between Harangajao and Jatinga through a diversion on the other side of bridge over river Jatinga, the steepest gradients that the MG trains faced will be a thing of the past. The official said the BG track will be critically and thoroughly examined from Patharkola station to Silchar. Any defect or deficiency will be subjected to further critical examition for rectification.

 As notified earlier, the inspection train was preceded by a ballast train and track testing machine. As the track passes mostly through hilly and difficult terrain with peculiar geophysical features of Borail and North Cachar Hills, monsoon season will be a testing phase for it. The British who made Silchar-Lumding MG more than a century ago had made special scientific provisions to channelize through outlets the rain water in order to avoid any disturbance to the track.

Though the NF Railway has decided to run the trains by end of this month, still more works for giving a concrete shape to the newly constructed stations, over-bridges, platforms, sheds and other passenger facilities including waiting rooms are to be done. Perhaps, the plan is to complete them on war-footing and NF Railway wants to draw a curtain on ‘no more waiting’. How the 35 lakh people of this southern region have been waiting for BG has its eloquent expression last night on the platforms of the stations through which the BG engine has moved.