NF Rly set to launch Rs 1,000-cr projects
By A Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, March 7 The NF Railway is all set to embark on a range of projects
with funds worth Rs 1,000 crore being sanctioned in this years rail budget.
Among the major works on the anvil are rail links between Dimapur-Kohima,
Azara-Byrnihat and gauge conversion of Aluabari-Siliguri. While the
Dimpaur-Kohima link of 88 km would cost Rs 850 crore, the 33 km Azara Byrnihat
link would cost Rs 200 crore and gauge conversion of Aluabari Siliguri would
entail a cost of Rs 170 crore.
The declaration of the Bogibeel bridge and gauge conversion between Rangiya and
Murkongselek as national projects has been another shot in the arm for the
development of the area.
Stating this at a press conference today, the General Manager (open line) of
the NFR AK Sanwalka said that with national project status being gained by the
projects, work could be put on a fast track.
However, work on the Lumding Badarpur gauge conversion another national
project has slowed down due to threats from insurgents. Last year several
people engaged in the project were killed by militants, leading to low morale
among railway and contract personnel.
Referring to infrastructure expansion, Sanwalka mentioned a range of plans like
development of the Kamakhya station at a cost of Rs 20 crores. And another Rs
10 crore funded by the Inland Water Transport to develop its existing assets at
Pandu.
Patch doubling would be carried out initially between Guwahati and Digaru.
This would reduce congestion in the particular section and increase traffic
handling.
Infrastructure of 24 new stations of NFR four in Tinsukia Division and five
each in Lumding, Rangia, Katihar and Alipurduar division would be upgraded
under the touch and feel scheme. They all would possess cleaner environment,
better passenger amenities, extended circulating yards and new facades within
the next few years.
On the sphere of technology induction Sanwalka revealed that new locomotives
with higher haulage strength are being inducted into the NFR. The new locos
would be useful in operating trains with more coaches and carriages. The
commissioning of the anti-collision device (ACD), trials of which are in final
stage, he claimed, would be a first for the entire Indian Railways.
The NFR has already increased the number of coaches in several important
trains, and three passenger trains now have 22 coaches each, while three others
have 23 coaches each. Through the increase in coaches 63,000 additional seats
and berths have been created.
Referring to congestion near railway crossings, the general manager affirmed
that while the NFR was keen to shoulder the financial burden to build road
overbridges, the State Government had not shown an inclination to share 50 per
cent of the expenditure. For the last three years, in spite of several
attempts, the State Government had not seriously considered the issue.
The Assam Tribune, 08.03.2007
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