Rs 1473-Crore Rail-Cum-Road Bridge at Saraighat Sanctioned: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

Staff Reporter

Guwahati: Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw today stated in the Lok Sabha that one railway cum road bridge has been sanctioned for Assam at Saraighat in Guwahati at a cost of Rs 1473.77 crore. It was also mentioned the way in which development of railway stations in Assam will be done under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, with examples.

On Wednesday, AGP MP Phani Bhusan Choudhury raised a starred question on the subject of the railway bridge between Guwahati and Amingaon over the Brahmaputra River. In response to this, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw tabled a statement on the floor of the Lok Sabha.

According to the Union Minister’s statement, the work of “Doubling of Agthori-Kamakhya section with construction of new Rail-cum-Road bridge at Saraighat (7.062 km)” has been sanctioned at a cost of Rs. 1,473.77 crore on February 19, 2024. Detailed design and drawing of this bridge have been taken up.

The Ministry of Railways has launched the ‘Amrit Bharat Station Scheme’ for the development of railway stations on Indian Railways. “This scheme envisages the development of stations on a continuous basis with a long-term approach. So far, 1337 stations have been identified under this scheme, out of which 50 stations are located in the state of Assam,” he stated.

It was also stated that the tenders for development works have been awarded for 48 Amrit stations in the state of Assam, and works have been taken up. The projects have exhibited a good pace of execution. For example, at Haibargaon station, structural works of the new service building, parking, and entry-exit gate have been completed, and works of improvement of the existing station building, platform shelters, circulating area, approach road, pay & use toilet, construction of porch, etc. have been taken up.

Also, at Gauripur station, structural works of the station building and waiting room have been completed, and works of improvement of the circulating area, foot overbridge, etc. have been taken up.

At Hojai station, works of improvement of the existing station building, platform shelters, parking area, approach road, construction of a new service building, pay & use toilets, porch, entry-exit gate, boundary wall, etc. have been taken up.

At the Lanka station, works on the construction of a new service building, pay & use toilets, entrance porch, entry-exit gate, foot overbridge, boundary wall, improvement of existing station building, platform shelters, parking area, approach road, etc. have been taken up.

At Fakiragram station, structural works of the new station building and approach road have been completed, and works of construction of the new foot overbridge, improvement of the platform shelter, circulating area, etc. have been taken up, the Union Minister further stated.

Development and upgradation of stations, including those under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, is generally funded under Plan Head-53 ‘Customer Amenities.’ The details of allocation under Plan Head-53 are maintained Zonal Railway-wise and not work-wise, station-wise, or state-wise. The state of Assam is covered by the Northeast Frontier Railway. The allocation for the financial year 2024-25 for this zone is Rs 530 crore; it was also stated.

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