AGARTALA, July 11 (TIWN): Close to the heels of dissatisfaction from two MPs from Tripura over NaMo government's first rail budget, Tripura flagged a number of issues and sought clarification on the union rail budget."We have sought clarification on plans of converting the meter gauge rail-line segment into broad gauge since there is no mention of the issue in the union rail budget", Tripura Transport Minister Manik Dey said here today.

Speaking to reporters at the civil secretariat here today, the minister said that the rail budget spoke about BG conversion in Lumding-Silchar route, it was silent on the Agartala segment.  There was no word about the Agartala-Sabroom rail extension project or the Agartala-Akhaura rail project, he added.
The minister said he had written twice to Union Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda since the rail budget was placed before the Parliament. The chief secretary of Tripura Dr. SK Panda wrote to the cabinet secretary and central railway board as well.
According to latest information, a letter from the office of the Union Railway Minister reached Chief Minister Manik Sarkar saying that BG conversion work would be started in Lumding-Silchar route in the first phase.  Agartala is likely to come in the next phase.
Transport minister Dey today further said that the state government appealed the Ministry to initiate mega block of the NFR for gauge conversion after ensuring proper altermative route for transportation of essential commodities. With a weak NH 44, the state would face hardships once the rail is gone, he said.
The NFR authorities are sheduled to initiate the mega block from October 01 this year. Tripura needs at least 27,000 MT foodgrains every month. The state is currently having less than three months' buffer food stock while the mega block is slated to last at least 1 year with the separate conversion plan in Lumding-Silchar and Agartala-Badarpur segment.