Rail Budget 2016: North-Eastern states set to get broad gauge

Making it clear that better connectivity to the north-eastern states is the government’s top priority, railway minister Suresh Prabhu on Thursday said Mizoram and Manipur will soon have broad gauge network.

Mr Prabhu said Indian Railways has opened the long-awaited Lumding-Silchar broad gauge section in Assam, thus connecting Barak Valley with rest of the country. It also brought Tripura capital Agartala on to the broad gauge network.

“Better connectivity to the northeastern states is of utmost priority for the Railways. Mizoram and Manipur are also set to come on the broad gauge map of the country soon with commissioning of the Kathakal-Bhairabi and Jiribam Gauge conversion projects,” Mr Prabhu said.

He also announced that Meghalaya has been brought on the railway map of India, while direct connectivity to Delhi has been provided for Arunachal Pradesh. Further, Barak Valley of Assam will be brought on the broad gauge in March 2016. “The work for connecting the remaining states of this (north-eastern) region is progressing well,” the minister said.

The Railway Budget spared passengers and goods movement from any increase in tariff while it announced introduction of three new superfast trains and creation of dedicated north-south, east-west and east coast freight corridors by 2019.

As far as J&K is concerned, the minister said that there will be faster rail network growth in the state. “Indian Railways is committed for faster rail network in Jammu and Kashmir. The rail connectivity between Jammu region and the Kashmir Valley through the Banihal tunnel provides all-weather connectivity with the rest of the country,” he said in his Budget address.

Mr Prabhu said the commissioning of Udhampur-Katra was “like a dream come true for millions of pilgrims”.