Railways committed to early completion of projects in NER

New Delhi, Aug 2 (UNI) The Railway Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav today assured a delegation of North Eastern MPs led by Minister for Heavy Industry and Public Enterprises Santosh Mohan Dev that work on the Jiribam-Tupul line is going on as per plan.

He said the target for completion of work on the line will be met and funds will not be a constraint in execution of this project.

The delegation said the condition of the metre gauge bridge between Katakhal and Salchapra has deteriorated and sought the Railway Minister's intervention to ensure that this bridge is maintained till it is taken over by the state government.

The Railway Minister informed the delegation that as part of gauge conversion, a new bridge has already been constructed on BG standards and it will be commissioned in october this year.

The Railways will maintain the existing MG Rail cum Road Bridge till it shifts to a new bridge.

The State Government has been approached by the Railways to take over this bridge on nominal lease charges and start maintaining the bridge thereafter for road use.

After commissioning of new rail bridge, this MG bridge will no more be used by the Railways.

The Minister of State for Heavy Industry and Public Enterprises Ms Kanti singh, MP Karnendu Bhattacharjee and MP L M Suklabaidya were also present there as part of the delegation.

Ms Singh mentioned that movement of bamboo from Panchgram station on Badarpur-Silchar section be expedited to improve paper production.

Railway Board Chairman J P Batra who was present there said that North East Frontier Railways has been directed to improve the loading from 10 rakes a month, as done in the past to about 15 rakes a month.

He informed that priority on the section will however continue to be given to food grains and other essential commodities required for the States of Tripura, Mizoram and Manipur.

He also pointed out that as of date, there are no incidents pending for loading of bamboo at Panchgram.

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