NE Region Assured Rs 10,000 cr for Devt of Rail Network

New Delhi, June 19 (UNI) The country's north-east has been assured investment of Rs 10,000 crore within the Eleventh Plan Period for the completion of 14 major rail projects aimed at transforming the transport infrastructure in this long-neglected part of the country -- as also to unleash the enormous development potential of the region.

The assurance came during the Sixth Sectoral Summit of the NE Region to review the Rail Connectivity Programme in the region, Minister for the Developoment of the NE Region Mani Shankar Aiyar informed mediapersons shortly after the daylong meeting here today.

Significantly, the allocation -- promised by the representatives of the Planning Commission and the Finance Ministry -- shall include provisions for security cover to ensure uninterrupted implementation of the rail projects in security-sensitive areas of the region -- which has been plagued by militancy for long.

The promised allocation will enhance the rail network in the NE region by 558 KMs -- up from the existing 2,400-odd KMs, said Minister Aiyar.

The 14 rail projects include eight envisaging laying of new lines, five involving gauge conversion (1,062 KMs of track) and one -- between New Guwahati and Digaru -- for doubling of the rail track.

Seven of these have been prioritised as 'National Projects'.

The Meeting was further informed by the Railways that it was willing to enter into partnership with domestic and foreign private sector companies to attain specified targets within an accelerated time-frame, the Minister said.

It also decided to establish a comprehensive monitoring mechanism -- with representatives of all stakeholders concerned -- to keep under regular and frequent review the progress of works in hand and removal of road-blocks, if any.

The Meeting also decided to explore -- through concept papers -- within the next few months several innovative ideas for extension of the rail network in the various states put forward by the respective delegations.

These included: 'India-China Friendship Railway' to bring the railways to those parts of the NE region that border China and link with the Chinese rail network which extends into Tibet; extending railways to connect with all Land Customs Stations planned and proposed on the frontiers of the NE region with neighbouring countries; extending the proposed Bairabi to Sairang broad gauge line to a river port on the Kolodyne river to establish riverine transport to Sittwe port in Myanmar; and linking Jogighopa through the plains of Meghalaya state bordering Bangladesh to the Lumding-Silchar rail line to exploit the horticulture potential -- cashew and anthurium -- and mineral deposits -- of coal, limestone and uranium -- in the state.

Besides, there was general agreement that every effort should be made to extend the rail network to every state capital in the NE region -- and modify proposed rail alignments, if need be.

Responding to queries, the Minister further informed that the Railways had carried out five surveys for establishing rail connectivity between Bhutan and the bordering areas of Assam. ''The report was expected by September-end,'' he said.

UNI