BALURGHAT

Expansion of Rail connectivity in Northeast has been the topmost priority of the present Central Government. Acting o­n the agenda, Northeast Frontier Railway has undertaken various state capitals and International connectivity new line projects under its jurisdiction. These new lines will provide basic infrastructure support for industrial development having large socio-economic ramification. It will provide a direct broad gauge route to the state capitals which may boost the economic development of the regions.

There are various new lines and doubling projects which are currently under implementation. Jiribam-Imphal new line project in Manipur is of 110.63 km in length and till now 56.1 km has been commissioned. Remaining 54.53 km is targeted to be commissioned by December, 2023.Dimapur-Kohima new line project in Nagaland is of 82.5 km in length and till now 16.5 km has been commissioned. Remaining 66 km is targeted to be commissioned by March, 2026.Tetelia-Byrnihat new line project in Meghalaya is of 21.5 km in length and till now 10.15 km has been commissioned. Remaining 11.35 km is targeted to be commissioned by March, 2024.Further, Sivok-Rangpo (44.96 km) new line project in Sikkim, Bairabi-Sairang (51.38 km) new line project in Mizoram and Araria-Galgalia (110.75 km)new line project in Bihar are targeted to be commissioned by December, 2023.Murkongselek-Pasighat (26.15 km) new line project in Arunachal Pradesh is targeted to be commissioned by March, 2025. Moreover, doubling of New Bongaigaon-Kamakhya via Goalpara is of 176.2 km in length and till now 45.63 km has been commissioned. Remaining 130.57 km is targeted to be commissioned by February, 2023.Doubling of New Bongaigaon-Agthori via Rangia which is of 142.97 km in length is targeted to be commissioned by February, 2023.

In addition, there are various international rail connectivity projects under the jurisdiction of N. F.Railway. Agartala-Akhaura new line connecting Agartala with Bangladesh which is of 12.03 km in length and is targeted to be commissioned by December, 2022.Jogbani-Biratnagar (18.6 km) new line connecting Jogbani in Bihar with Nepal and Mahisasan-Zero Point (2.7 km) connecting Assam with Bangladesh is also targeted to be commissioned by March, 2023. Balurghat-Hili (29 km) new line connecting West Bengal with Bangladesh is targeted to be commissioned by March, 2024.

Apart from these, final location survey for a new line has also been sanctioned from Lanka to Chandranathpur. This line will act as an alternative to the Lumding- Badarpur hill section & also act as a double line. Further, survey for doubling in Tripura & South Assam are also being planned for execution in future. Also, a new cross border link between Kokrajhar (in Assam) & Gelephu (in Bhutan) has been sanctioned for preliminary survey.

These projects will provide enhanced connectivity to the people of the respective areas, help grow small scale industries in the area and boost tourism. NFR is committed to contribute relentlessly in the pursuit of enhancing railway infrastructure and connectivity in Northeast.

Garib Kalyan Sammelan: Eight years of present government

Beneficiaries expressed happiness over public welfare schemes

Maligaon, 31^st May, 2022:

Garib Kalyan Sammelan has been organized all over India to mark 8^th anniversary of the present government. The programme is being organized across the country at state capitals, district headquarters and Krishi Vigyan Kendras. The Sammelan conceptualizes elected public representatives across the country directly interacting with the public in an endeavour to get feedback about the various welfare programmes being run by the government.

As a part of the sammelan, Hon’ble Prime Minister interacted with beneficiaries from Shimla. Hon’ble Railway Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw also interacted with various beneficiaries at Behala Railway Indoor Sports Stadium, Kolkata. In his speech, the Union Minister said that the present government has given an allocation of ten thousand crores for railways at Bengal. MPs, MLAs and other public representatives were present at different stations of West Bengal.

Hon’ble MPs and MLAs were virtually connected with the programme of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at Shimla and Railway Minster at Behala from different stations of West Bengal. Hon’ble MP Shri Nishith Pramanik with other MLAs were present at New Coochbehar station, Shri John Barla with other MLAs were at Alipurduar Junction, Dr. Sukanta Majumdar at Balurghat station, Shri Raju Bista at Darjeeling station and Dr. Jayanta Kumar Roy with other MLA at New Jalpaiguri station. Hon’ble MLA Shri Sushil Barman was present at Mathabhanga station, Ms. Malati Rava Roy at Tufanganj station, Shri Dipak Barman at Falakata station, Shri Manoj Tigga at Madarihat station, Shri Puna Bhengra at Nagrakata station, Shri Kaushik Roy at Mynaguri station, Shri Bishnu Pada Ray at Dhupguri station, Dr. Shankar Ghosh at Siliguri station and Shri Satyendra Nath Roy at Gangarampur station.

The live interaction was also stream across 146 stations over the five divisions of NFR. The endeavour of the sammelan is to make the reach and delivery of government programmes more efficient so as to improve the ease of living of the citizens of the country.