No bullet train dream for Barak!

Special Correspondent

SILCHAR, June 16: For the landlocked people of Barak Valley the dream of bullet train as being talked of now in the corridor of the Ministry of Railways and mooted by the Prime Minister, this is not the concern for them. It has been stated in a memorandum to the Prime Minister that Barak Valley has been adversely affected by landslides during monsoon on tiol Highway 6, earlier 44, for several days, disrupting the communication links with  rest of the world. Even after decades of being victim of communication bottleneck, there has been no effective remedial action to improve the situation. The recent landslides at Ratabari, 100 kms from here, in Meghalaya have not only blocked the NH but also claimed four lives.

Though BRTF has gone for immediate clearing of the debris and restoring communication link, the vehicles have to move cautiously through the risky stretches, spanning more than 200 metres. Once the road communication or link of Barak Valley faces blockade, it also badly affects the neighbouring states of Tripura, Mizoram and Manipur. It is through this valley that the vehicles, both passenger and goods, move to the hinterland of these states. In fact, in the event of tural calamity, these areas are virtually trapped.

In such a unfavourable situation, garik Swartharaksha Sangram Parishad (NSSP) in a memorandum sent to the rendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, and submitted through the Deputy Commissioner of Cachar today, has said, “People of Barak Valley want all weather railways and highways and not bullet train. Bullet train for them is a long and distant dream.” Haridas Dutta, general secretary of the Parishad, described the pathetic condition in respect of communication links and its chain effects on the daily life of common people. Economically, in particular, they are hit as the prices of all sorts of commodities, essential and non-essential, increase abnormally. The situation continues for days.

This is due mainly to the step motherly treatment of this valley by the state government of Assam. Dutta pointed out the immediate need of this valley is not of dreaming high and lofty, but to have the dependable rail and road services. While the trains are yet to run on the newly laid BG track, another project Silchar-Saurashtra Corridor, better known as Mahasadak, is still dragging feet, although more than 12 years ago it was to be completed.

The memorandum to the Prime Minister impresses upon him to ensure commissioning of railway services on Silchar-Lumding BG and at the same time for completion of Mahasadak and provide better connectivity with outside world.