North-East gets Rs.13,500-cr rail lines

In order to build top-class rail network in the north-eastern areas of the country, the Railways has cleared projects of Rs. 13,500cr. The funds will be invested in building new rail lines, bridges, and an elevated rail tract from Kamakhya to New Guwahati at a cost of Rs. 3,062cr, said official sources, claiming that the steps would not only help to boost the infrastructure of this region but also generate employment for the youth through several spin-off industries. A bottled drinking water plant under the Rail Neer brand at Jagiroad in Assam and a high-end North-East Safari train was being envisaged. North-East Council (NEC) member, C K Das, highlighted the infrastructural gaps in the region as compared to other regions of the country. North-East Frontier Railway has identified the critical projects in the region and the progress over the last few years has been satisfactory, NF Railway's General Manager (Construction), H K Jaggi said.