Railways committed to expand connectivity in NE: Prabhu

BY OUR BUREAU

GUWAHATI/HARLAGUN, May 7: Reiterating the Centre’s priority for development of Northeast region, Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu on Sunday said his ministry is committed to connect all States of the region with broad gauge rail.

The minister was addressing the people through video conferencing from the headquarters of Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR) in Guwahati after flagging off the harlagun-Guwahati Shatabdi Express, besides laying the foundation stone of Murkongselek-Pasighat BG line and declaring open the commencement of survey of seven new lines in the State.

“Connectivity in Northeast is the priority of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre and efforts are on for electrification of all BG lines in the region in the next five years,” he said, adding that the tion cannot develop without rail connectivity extending to its every nook and corner.

He said the negligence of the Centre towards the Northeast has been removed after the NDA came to power in 2014, and accordingly railway projects worth Rs 90,000 crore have been undertaken for all States of the region.

“During 2016-17, the Railway ministry introduced 26 new trains for the Northeast,” he said, adding that this region with immense potential will soon figure among the developed regions of the country.

Prabhu also set in motion the survey of new broad gauge lines linking important towns of Aruchal Pradesh and Assam like Lekhapani-Kharsang, Itakhola-Seijosa, Dumduma-msai-Wakro, Dangri-Roing, Deomali-harkatia, Lekhapani-Miao-Deban, Tinsukia-Pasighat via Simaluguri, Kanubari.

The Railway minister said Rs 8.5 lakh crore would be spent in the Northeast in the next five years, while Rs 3.5 lakh crore has already been spent in the last three years. He said that Rs 1 lakh crore would be spent to develop railway stations in this region.

Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain, speaking at harlagun station here, termed the occasion as a ‘good beginning’ and assured to complete the survey works of seven BG lines in foothill areas of the State by December next year.

Gohain also said the work on Murkongselek-Pasighat BG line will be completed by 2018. “With improved rail connectivity in the Northeast, the region can become a major industrial hub for South East Asian countries,” he said while reiterating the Centre’s commitment for development of the region.

The newly introduced pair of Shatabdi trains (12088/12087) will move from Guwahati on Monday, Wednesday and Friday; and on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from harlagun.