A worker cleaning railway tracks at Dimapur Railway Station. (Representative Image: Morung File Photo)
MALIGAON, FEBRUARY 8 (MExN): The new 88 kms railway line project connecting the Nagaland’s capital Kohima with Dimapur through BG line has been allocated 500 crore in the recent Railway Budget 2019-20, a Northeast Frontier Railway release informed today.
Overall, the Plan Outlay for the year 2019-20 has been set a Rs. 4230.12 crore for the zone while an amount of Rs. 2834.90 crore has been kept for new line construction during the period, stated the release issued by NFR Chief Public Relations Officer Pranav Jyoti Sharma.
Apart from Dimapur-Kohima, some of the important allocations for new line projects include: Rs. 850 crore for the 98 Kms Jiribam –Imphal project connecting Imphal, the capital of Manipur with the mainland through BG line; and Rs. 125 for the 21.5 kms Teteliya–Byrnihat project connecting Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya with others.
Mizoram will also be connected by rail with the allocation of Rs. 750 crore for the 51.38 kms Bhairabi–Sairang new BG railway line project.
The first rail connectivity to Sikkim will also materialise with the allocation of Rs. 200 crore for the Sivok – Rangpo new BG railway line project (44.39 kms).
The NFR release further noted that the 13 kms Agartala – Akhaura (Bangladesh) new BG railway line project will provide international connectivity between India and Bangladesh. The project was allocated Rs. 100 crore.
The ‘adequate’ allocations of funds are in line with the Government of India’s effort towards transformation of North East region through improved transportation, the release maintained.
Apart from new BG railway line works adequate fund has also been provided for various track doubling works, it said.
The budget has put more emphasis on bridge repairing works, acquiring machinery & plants and modernization of workshops.
Rs. 10 crore has been allocated for improvement of various coaching complex and Rs. 66.12 crore for modernization of workshops and Rs. 21.21 crore for purchase of various machineries.
Besides, the allocation for undertaking new passenger amenity related works has been increased by more than double to Rs. 187.17 crore from last year’s allocation of Rs. 91.01 crore, the release said.
These steps will help in better maintenance of passenger trains, the release informed, it added.
