AGARTALA, July 25 (TIWN): After crossing the deadline since March finally the BG Express train will begin its journey from July 31. However the flag off ceremony will be observed by Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu. Although it is decided to toll the train on July31but the train is likely to move through the diverted railway track of Migrendissa at snail pace of less than 5KMph as the mainstream track was damaged due to landslides. It is to be mentioned here that Union railway minister Suresh Prabhu likely to inaugurate the BG Agartala-Delhi Express train service onJuly 31 from Agartala railway station. Talking to TIWN correspondent, NFR construction official Pratap Singh said that it is still not clear when NFR will undertake work to restore the mainline which was damaged due to the landslides following the rain. But it is clear that work will not get completed by October. This means trains will run at snail’s pace of less than five KM per hour through the diversion line in Migrendisa.

This lacklustre attitude of NFR has led to mass anger in all concerned circles. They have demanded that the main line should also be restored as this will mean that even if any snag develops in the diversion line the train services will not get disrupted.

Reportedly the freight train service was put on halt after the railway track was removed from many parts of Assam area including Migrendissa.

The problem started when due to continuous water falling from hills, the water remains muddy there and the soil gets unstable. Also many other faults were found in that part including the track.

Earlier, NFR GM H K Jaggi ordered to Change the full track at that place and to reset the tracks there.

Engineers have been borrowed from other states to get the work done. The diversion was undertaken following the advice of an Austrian expert Florian Krenn, who visited the site a few days back and submitted a report to the NFR. Krenn is associated with Geo Consult, a private and independent engineering consultant providing various services in engineering on a global scale.

A synthetic carpet is also set below the tacks to make it stable.

Reportedly The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has constructed a diversion at Maigrendisa in Dima Hasao district to reconnect Silchar with Lumding. The move came after the NFR failed to repair the tracks damaged owing to incessant rain and landslides in front of tunnel 8 at Maigrendisa despite repeated attempts for more than a month. But as of now NFR has not taken any initiative to repair the mainstream line which is taking much more time for the train to enter the state as the diversion covers a total of 220KM.

Sources said the NFR faced a tough time repairing the damaged 140m-long tracks at Maigrendisa.

Sources said the hillocks on either side of the tracks at Maigrendisa comprise a layer of black soil, which was unable to discharge water following the rain and later it led to landslide.