AGARTALA, March 12 (TIWN): The dream of the broad gauge train in Tripura seems to be not so far. The first broad-gauge engine will knock the door of the people of Silchar on March 13. After that on March 16, an experimental boggy train will move from Silchar to Patharkhola under Nayagao district. This special train will not carry any passengers- says the authorities of North Eastern Frontier Railways (NFR). On the trial run, the General Manager of NFR, Railway officials and media persons will be present. It is to be mentioned that the General Manager will arrive at Silchar to experience the first hand experience of the journey. NFR authorities further informed that the delegations on their way will inaugurate the newly constructed Badarpur railway station. In the meantime, the line set up of Silchar-Lumbding-Badarpur was completed. Now, the work of foot bridge construction, Station and renovation of the existing parts. The NFR authorities expected that if everything goes according to the project plan, the whistle of the broad gauge train will be heard by this month as the line setting up of Badarpur-Agartala.

Earlier, after a long period finally the laying and constructing of Broad Gauge (BG) railway tracks of Mega Block from Lumding to Silchar has already been completed, said a NFR source.

The source further added that the trial run from Lumding to Silchar is likely to start on March 11. Chief Engineer, Construction, NF Railway Harpal Singh is likely to lead the trial run. After completion of the trial run Safety Board will send a technical team to examine the newly constructed Broad Gauge (BG) railway tracks from Lumding to Silchar.

The train will start commercial run after receiving the green signal from the Safety Board, New Delhi, the source mentioned. Conversion work from Badarpur to Agartala has already been started and is likely to be completed in March next year, the source added. The source further said that the commissioning of laying and constructing of Broad Gauge (BG) railway tracks of Mega Block for Agartala to Udaipur will start from March 2016.

The commissioning of laying and constructing of Broad Gauge (BG) railway tracks of Mega Block for Kumarghat to Agartala will start from March 2016 and the commissioning of laying and constructing of Broad Gauge (BG) railway tracks of Mega Block for Agartala to Sabroom will start from March 2018, the source added. Conversion work of 108 kilometer railway tracks of Mega Block has been already completed out of 228 kilometers. The BG conversion of the Mega Block that started on October 1st 2014 is on right track for its timely completion, the source mentioned. The source further added that NFR has deployed more than 3000 workers to complete the conversion work .

The completion of the work in Silchar-Lumbding route surely puts a question mark on the unmeaningful   criticisms of the Governments of various States. The Central Government had completed their half work within the estimated time. These will definetly puts a ray of hope in the eyes of the people of Tripura. Earlier, MP Jitendra Chowdhury on the general discussion on budget stresses the quick processing of the work of Badarpur-Agartala line.