Assam LS MPs hail Rail Budget

Spl Correspondent
NEW DELHI, July 9 — While hailing the Railway Budget, Assam Lok Sabha members have called for release of adequate funds for early completion of the national projects in the North-east.

Mentioning that Barak Valley too has a problem of chicken neck in North Cachar Hills like the Brahmaputra Valley, Kabindra Purkayastha urged Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee to ensure early completion of the Lumding-Silchar broad gauge conversion project. The project was scheduled for completion in 2007. However, till 2009, only 40 per cent of the work has been completed, he lamented.

The broad gauge conversion project should be completed at the earliest and whatever hurdles exist should be removed.

Purkayastha further demanded renaming of the Silchar Railway Station as Bhasa Sahid Station and Silchar-Tripura Express as Bhasa Sahid Express. He further demanded creation of a new railway division at Badarpur.

Participating in the discussion, Badruddin Ajmal supported the Railway Budget, lauding the initiatives taken by Mamata Banerjee for the North-east. He also urged the minister to ensure completion of the Lumding-Silchar gauge conversion project.

He said two major national projects have been languishing for want of funds. Despite claims by the Government, only seven per cent of the funds have been spent on these projects, he claimed.

The AUDF MP also called for completion of the Jogighopa-Bongaigaon line, even as he appreciated the schemes taken in the Budget for the benefit of the minority community.

Joining the discussion, Ramen Deka said the railway track that is passing through his constituency from Rangiya to Morkakchaleng was laid in the British era. But these tracks are still in a dilapidated condition.

The Rangiya-Murkokchaleng gauge conversion project should be completed within a specific time frame. It connects Arunachal Pradesh which has an international border with China, he said.

He further said Assam has become a dumping ground of old coaches. During the last 60 years, old coaches were being used. The condition of these coaches is in a very bad shape. These should be replaced in a phased manner so that people can travel comfortably, Deka said.

Participating in the discussion, Lalitmohan Suklabaidya lauded the initiatives taken by Banerjee though he lamented the delay in completion of the BG conversion project. SOURCE: ASSAM TRIBUNE