ProMASS News Bureau: Sep 12, 2016: Union Minister of State for Railways, Rajen Gohain and Chief Minister of Assam Sarbananda Sonowal jointly laid the foundation stone of the project for Doubling of Railway Line from Hojai to Lumding at a public function held in Hojai today. Chief Public Relations Officer of NFR, Pranav Jyoti Sharma informed this today in a press release.
Addressing the gathering Rajen Gohain said, lack of double lines has been a critical bottleneck in Assam for punctual movement of trains and the project of doubling of railway line from Hojai to Lumding (44.92 km) will create additional carrying capacity for the Railways and improve punctuality of trains. Gohain announced that doubling of railway tracks from Bongaigaon to Guwahati via Goalpara and Digaru to Hojai would start in the month of October and it would be his endeavor to invite the Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu for the foundation stone laying ceremony of those projects. He said that these projects are expected to be completed within three years.
Gohain said that that the electrification of railway tracks from New Jalpaiguri to Guwahati at cost of about Rs 650 crores, which was sanctioned in 2008, would also start very soon.
Having said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always laid special emphasis on tourism development in the northeastern region he added, the tourism potential of the region has remained largely underutilized and therefore he has asked the Indian Railways Tourism and Catering Corporation Ltd (IRCTC) to develop a tourist circuit in consultation with the official representatives of northeastern states.
The Minister for Railways acknowledged the help and cooperation received from the Chief Minister of Assam Sarbananda Sonowal and said, Railways needs land for developmental activities and therefore encroachment on railway land will be viewed very seriously.
Addressing the gathering the Chief Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal lauded the efforts and dedication of the Minister of State for Railways for developing railway infrastructure in the region. He thanked the Prime Minister and the Railway Minister Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu for paying special attention to the region. Later, the General Manager, N. F. Railway Construction, Shri H. K. Jaggi presented the dignitaries with mementos and the Chief Administrative Officer of N. F. Railway Construction, Shri Ajit Pandit offered vote of thanks.
