In an attempt to build top-class rail network across north-eastern states of the country, the Indian Railways recently kick-started surveys of seven new broad-gauge rail lines in Arunachal Pradesh, said official sources, adding that currently projects of about Rs.90,000 crore have been started and has also laid the foundation stone for construction of a 26 km-long new broad gauge line from Mukongselek in Assam to Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh. As a matter of fact, the on-going surveys are in addition to the surveys already announced for strategic lines connecting Tawang, Along, and Parsuramkund in Arunachal and they are targeted for completion by December 2018. Total survey length of seven new lines is around 594 km. The minister also announced commencement of work of the much-awaited Railway Electrification from Raninagar Jalpaiguri to Guwahati and added that railways will consider running a tourist train connecting all the places visited by great Vaishnavite Saint, Srimanta Sankardev. In fact, as a part of the India's Act East Policy, railway system in north-east India is getting improved. Meanwhile, implementation of the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicle Agreement, which was expected to slow down following Thimpu‘s delay in ratifying the pact, has now received a boost with the Bhutan government officially conveying to the remaining three partners to go ahead with plans.
