JOIN USDespite Railway Minister D V Sadananda Gowda promising a 54 per cent jump in allocation for northeast projects, the 14 strategic railway links required for India's military preparedness, including three in the northeast, continue to remain outside the minister’s radar.
Gowda said 23 projects were underway in the northeast, out of which 11 were national projects. In 2014-15, northeast projects have been earmarked an outlay of Rs 5116 crore – 54 per cent more than last year. At least four NE projects are expected to be completed soon.
One of them –the new line between Dudhnoi and Mendipathar- will connect Meghalaya with Assam and thereby the Indian railway network. Incidentally it was announced in the 1992-93 railway budget.
Completion of the Lumding-Badarpur-Silchar gauge conversion and commissioning of Harmuti-Murkongselek and Balipara-Bhalukpong sections are expected to improve rail connectivity in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
However, the minister maintained silence over the 30.6 km long the Murkongselek-Pasighat link, which is defence ministry's top most priority from the perspective of operational readiness.
The work for the 165.82 crore project was included in the 2011-12 project, but barely anything happened on the ground.
The Ministry of Railways refused to fund any of the 14 strategic rail link projects the defence ministry had identified for paucity of money. It asked the defence ministry not only to bear the capital cost but also the operational expenses.
On the other border-linking project connecting Jammu with Kashmir valley, Gowda said the central government has tied up with the state government to bridge the Udhampur-Banihal section by bus so that passengers can reach Srinagar in a single ticket.
He said work on the missing link between Banihal and Katra in the Kashmir railway line would be given focus.