AGARTALA, May 28 (TIWN): Ministry of Railway Board Executive Director Vivek Kumar alongwith NFR officials visited Agartala Railway Station to take stock of ongoing BG (broad gauge) expansion works of Agartala- Silchar line. Earlier Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced a budget allocation of Rs.2,362.74 crore for the Northeast and promised to bring the region into the mainstream."I have allocated Rs.2,362.74 crore for the Development of North Eastern Region(DoNER). Special priority is being given to the region's development. The development process includes two visits of prime minister (Narendra Modi) and launch of important infrastructure projects. Northeastern part of the country will be brought in the mainstream," Jaitley said while presenting the union budget 2015-16 in the Lok Sabha.Ministry of Railway Board Executive Director Vivek Kumar along with his 12 members’ railway team visiting the North Eastern region to monitor the pace of Railways BG conversion infrastructure projects.Apart from 2362 crores, an extra sum of Rs.1,000 crore was also allocated for rail connectivity and Rs.2,000 crore for road connectivity in Northeastern region.

On wednesday, Ministry of Railway Board Executive Director Vivek Kumar along with his 12 members’ railway team had a courtesy meeting with State Minister for Revenue Badal Chowdhury. Talking to the reporters here at the civil secretariat Kumar said that Minister had suggested the railway authorities to finish the Broad gauge (BG) conversion work within the committed time period.

He said, “The BG line construction work from Agartala to Udaipur would be completed by March 2016, whereas the rail line work up to Sabroom would be completed by March 2018.”

He also said that the team had visited the state and inspected the ongoing construction sites and had a chat with the rail passengers. “There is no problem with the work and it is running smoothly and fast in progress,” Kumar told to reporters.

However later speaking to the reporters here at the civil secretariat Minister Badal Chowdhury said, “The railway authority were suggested to build cross bridges over the rail line at every platforms of therail stations to ensure free movement of the passengers. ”   

Expressing displeasure over no release of fund by the centre for the Indo-Bangla rail project that would start from Tripura newly to connect the North East with Bangladesh, Minister said, “And the Railwayauthorities were told to take the project work seriously and give it a top most priority.”

Adding to that he said that Rs. 300 crore would be required for the land acquisition in the Indian counterpart.

However, earlier Minister Manik Dey said that the project work would be delayed as no fund has been released by the central govt.

Of the 15.054 km railway track, only 5 km fall in Indian side and the rest is in Bangladesh. The tracks would be laid in meter gauge on broad gauge format so that it could be converted into broad gauge when necessary.

During Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to New Delhi in January 2010, India and Bangladesh had agreed to lay the tracks between Akhaura and Agartala.