Freight corridor from Ludhiana to Howrah: Lalu

Katihar, Nov 7 (UNI) Railway Minister Lalu Prasad today said separate freight corridor would be established from Ludhiana to Howrah as heavy movement of passengers' train on the existing tracks of the route was affecting the speedy delivery of goods.

Inaugurating the 35-km-long broad gauge line under Katihar-Barsoi section of North Frontier Railways at Barsoi, Mr Prasad said the proposed freight corridor would pass through Jharkhand and Bihar.

'' Railways is committed to establish vast network of industries in Bihar and several projects worth Rs 25000 crores had already been sanctioned in this regard,'' he said adding the tardy pace of acquisition of land by the Bihar government for execution of railway projects, was creating hindrance in its completion within stipulated time period.Once these industries become operationl, it would also help in checking the exodus of labourers from Bihar in search of their lively hood, he added.

'' More than 50,000 people had been recruited in Railways during my tenure,'' Mr Prasad said adding backlog vacancies for SCs and STs had also been fulfilled.

UNI