AGARTALA, August 28 (TIWN): Eyeing forward to kick off the Broad Gauge (BG) conversion work from Badarpur to Agartala, laying of tracks is already under-going in full swing at Agartala railway station.Indian Railways connectivity in India’s north eastern region will get boost with the launch of the first ever broad gauge passenger trains to Tripura.The latest trend of work at Agartala railway station shows that days are not so far when people of Tripura can travel long distances in BG trains and get connected to rest of the part of the country.

Only a few days left to kick off the BG conversion work in at Agartala.

The Mega-block work of the railway network work is underway in full swing and it is expected that Agartala-Badarpur Mega Block BG conversion to begin from October 1. It is scheduled that the work of laying tracks for 227 km long railway track from Badarpur to Agartala to begin from October 1 and for the faster pace of work the train services to remain suspended during durga puja.

According to the Rail authority, Agartala railway station will be counted among one of the big stations. There will be 17 railway tracks in Agartala railway station which is expected to cater rail service from different parts of the state. Sources claim that by March 31, 2016 train to reach Udaipur via Agartala from Badarpur. Over bridge in Kumarghat- Agartala section to be constructed at 30 identified locations.

Few under bridge will also be constructed. Am amount of Rs. 15 crore is sanctioned for the bridge construction.

However, the BG conversion work from Badarpur to Agartala would be taken up in two phases.

During the first phase the BG conversion work would start from Badarpur to Kumarghat stretching about 118 km, whereas the second phase work would start from Kumarghat to Agartala stretching about 109 km, official said.  

A total of 227 km of meter gauge would be converted into broad gauge from Badarpur to Agartala.

After the successful BG trial run of a diesel engine from Lumding to Silchar the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) is working hard to bring Agartala under the country’s Broad Gauge Network by March 2016. After the introduction of the BG facility one could return from Guwahati to Agartala, capital town of the landlocked State Tripura in eight hours.

The successful run of the trains on the broad-gauge track will bring sync with those in the rest of the country and Tripura is gearing up for faster connectivity and communication with several parts of the nation.