Imphal 25 August : The amount of money allocated for railway projects in the northeastern states has increased by 254 percent in the past eight years (2014-2022) in comparison to the previous period the Minister of State for Railways and Textiles Darshana Jardosh told reporters on Thursday.The MoS Railways said that the expansion of rail connectivity in the northeast is the top goal of the Central government.
“The allocation of funds to improve rail connectivity in the NE states has been increased by 254 percent in the past eight years (2014-22) as compared to the previous time.It will aid in increasing connectivity and aid the region’s transformation into an important logistic hub that will lead to economic growth,” the central minister declared.
Jardosh along with Manipur Chief Minister N.Biren Singh held an open meeting to discuss the progress of the Jiribam – Imphal New Railway project in Imphal.Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) General Manager Anshul Gopta and other top officials from the state and railway were also present at the meeting to review progress.
NFR Chief Public Relations Officer Sabyasachi De said that during the review meeting the decision was taken to maintain the momentum of work in full-speed to meet the previously set timeframe in co-operation with the state government.
He said that despite the devastation of the landslide of June 29-30 that was a result of the railway line in Noney district, and a myriad of other difficulties the entire Railway team is working hard to speed up the finalization of the Jiribam-Imphal railway construction project.
In the landslides at least 61 people were killed, mostly Territorial Army soldiers, were killed and a handful of people were missing, while many suffered injuries.
Jardosh also visited various locations for construction of the 110-km long Jiribam-Imphal project.The estimated cost of approximately 1432 crore rupees.
In the current fiscal year the amount is Rs 1,300 crore.been scheduled to be put into the project.
As per the CPRO the crucial railway project, which will encompass all the principal districts of Manipur — Jiribam, Tamenglong, Noney, Kangpokpi, Imphal West — is expected to be finished by the end of December 2023.
Currently, the trip from Jiribam to the capital city of Imphal takes between 10 and 2 hours by road .Upon the completion of the railway project the same distance will be completed in less than two hours.
It could also aid in the transport of essential commodities more quickly by the state and assist local producers of the state to export their goods outside the state more quickly, De said.
He stated that construction of Jiribam-Imphal’s Jiribam-Imphal’s brand Broad Gauge line project is underway as part of connecting all capital cities of state governments of the Northeastern States via railways.
Assam’s principal city of Guwahati (adjoining capital Dispur), Tripura capital Agartala as well as Arunachal Pradesh’s Naharlagun (adjacent to capital city Itanagar) are already connected with the railway network.
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