Govt takes up gauge conversion in northeast

New Delhi, Mar 17 (UNI) The government today said work for conversion of meter gauge to broad gauge has been taken up in several stretches of the northeast region to facilitate smooth movement of passenger and goods traffic.

Replying during Question Hour in the Upper House, Minister of State for Railways R Velu said the Lumding-Slichar-Jiribam and Badarpur-Baraigram-Kuarghat (409 kms), Rangia-Murkongeselek with links from Balipara to Bhalukpong and Rangapura North-Tezpur (510 kms), Katakhal-Bhairabi (84 Kms), Senchoa-Silghat Town and Haibargoan-Mairabari (106 Kms) and Fakiragram-Dhubri (56 kms) have been taken up for the work.

Mr Velu said the northeast region has a large network of meter gauge lines. The transshipment of goods is required wherever movement is involved over different gauges. Although the goods take sometime to transit due to transshipment, the cost is borne by the railways.

''The conversion of all the main routes in the north eastern region have already been taken up which on completion would avoid transshipment on those routes,'' Mr Velu said.

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