AGARTALA, March 28 (TIWN): Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Friday flagged off the first goods train from Lumding to Silchar through video conferencing at a function in New Delhi. Mr. Prabhu said That “this is a momentous occasion” and also added that his ministry is giving special thrust for better rail connectivity in North Eastern states.On Friday, at 12.30 p.m the train moved from Lumbing to Salcharpara(one station ahead of Silchar), where the dock line for Goods Train were being laid. NFR Sources informed that the train would reach the destination within 5-6 hrs.Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) is working on schedule to bring Agartala under the country’s Broad Gauge Network by March 2016. After introduction of BG facility, people can return from Guwahati to Agartala, capital town of the landlocked State Tripura in eight hours.If NFR sticks to its project schedule, the ongoing work of BG conversion work from Lumding to Agartala via Badarpur would be completed by March 2016.

According to the NFR sources, the ambitious railway project, which is also a national project, has 79 major bridges, 340 minor bridges, 28 railway stations and four halt stations. 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.

On the other hand, BG conversion work from Karimganj to Agartala likely to start from October 1. NFR sources informed that, it will take four to six months to get the project completed.

After inauguration, Railway Minister said " 210-km line is expected to change the landscape of the Barak Valley. It will later be extended to Tripura."