AGARTALA, June 15 (TIWN): Broad gauge (BG) conversion of railway track in Tripura is scheduled to begin from October next, said a Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) official on Monday. The gauge conversion work on Lumbding-Silchar via Badarpur section is going on full swing. Some parts of the track have already been completed. An inspection by the Safety Commissioner is scheduled during June 18-23 next, the NFR official, who wishes not to be named, added over telephone.

Earlier, an inspection was carried out up to Haflong. However, the rest railway track needs approval, the NFR sources quipped. The project is progressing in line with the planning of the Northeast Frontier Railways. As per the estimation of NFR, the gauge conversion will take at least three months in Tripura part. This will lead to suspension of train services in Tripura.

State government asked Northeast Frontier Railway authority to convert the railway track without closing the service because the narrow gauge track had been built with the provision of expansion of line only by laying a separate track. State government wanted up gradation of track has to be done keeping the existing service on track. Otherwise, passenger movement will suffer seriously because of the dilapidated condition of National Highway.