AGARTALA, March 14 (TIWN): Demand raised high in Tripura Assembly for alternative rail line from Agartala to Dhamanagar via Kailashahar-Kamalpur-Khowai-Mohonpur.

This demand was raised by MLA Anjan Das stating that Kamalpur, Kailashahar are also important for economic growth of the state and for smooth business these alternative routes will be helpful. MLA Pranab Debbarma, Samiran Malakar also demanded the same.

The question was placed before Transport Dept and Minister Manik Dey in reply said that this issue will be seen soon and NFR will take the initiatives.  However, for other rail lines which are already expanded, MLAs expresses satisfaction over it.

It’s to be mentioned here that trains first reached Tripura in 1964 when the railway was extended to the state's northern business hub, Dharmanagar. Later it was extended further to Kumarghat. The northeastern state capital came on India's railmap with the advent of the railways in the subcontinent in 1853. The foundation stone of the 119 km Kumarghat-Agartala railway project was laid in 1996 by the former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda and during the laying of rail lines, provisions were kept for swiftly converting it to broad gauge. 40 years time was taken by the Government since then to connect Agartala by rail.

The NFR had spent Rs 900 crore ($190 million) to connect Agartala by rail by making three tunnels through the Longtharai Valley, Baramura and Atharamura Hills in Dhalai and West Tripura districts. The 1,962-metre Longtharai tunnel is the longest railway tunnel in eastern India.The architecture of the station resembles Ujjayanta Palace.

Now Tripura has Broad Gauge, 4 express trains and rail network is expanding till Sabroom to be commenced soon. Already till Udaipur the service is going in full swing.