AGARTALA, April 26 (TIWN): After the completion of Silchar-Lumding broad gauge section in Assam, uncertainty still prevails due to the non-inspection of broad gauge section by the security commissioner. As a result the Passenger train services which was likely to start from April still waits for green signal.

According to NFR sources, the line, implemented as the first part of a two-phase project, provides broad gauge connectivity from the rest of the country to the Barak Valley of Assam. Phase II, consisting of gauge conversion of three sections, Badarpur-Kumarghat, Baraigram- Dullabcherra and Silchar-Jiribam, will be completed by March 31 next year.

The states of Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura will also be on broad gauge by then. These states are dependent on this line for supply of food grains, fertilizers, petroleum products and so on.

The 210 km Silchar-Lumding line, one of the largest gauge conversion projects of the Indian Railways, was completed at a cost of Rs 3500 crore. 

The engineers had to contend with difficult hilly terrain, geologically unstable hills and difficult law and order challenges and have been appreciated as an engineering marvel in all respects. A number of railway men sacrificed their lives in the completion of this project, the source mentioned.

The new line will boost connectivity in the North-Eastern Region and work as Lifeline for Bark Valley in Assam and the States of Tripura, Manipur & Mizoram.