TDC opposes plan to close rail track
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 03 2014:
The Transporters' and Drivers' Council (TDC) has raised strong objection against the railway authority's decision to block the railway line from Lamding to Badarpur for upgrading the railway line leading to Jiribam from metre gauge to broad gauge.
Closure of this particular railway line would lead to acute shortage of food grains including rice, the staple food of Manipur.
Speaking to media persons at their office today, TDC president H Ranjit while seeking attention of the Chief Minister and the Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister urged the State Government to persuade the Union Railway Minister and ensure that the railway service is not interrupted.
It would not be in the interest of the people of Manipur to block the railway line at Lamding which is the route for transportation of food grains to Manipur.
It is essential to make necessary arrangements so that the rail track is not blocked during the process of upgradation.
The processing of upgrading the rail track should be done after obtaining prior approval from the States of Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura.
If the railway line must be blocked, the process of upgrading the railway line should be done in phases.
It may be done from Badarpur to Kumarghat or Bhairabi in the first phase.
Food grains and other items are being shipped in along Imphal-Jiribam highway as adequate quantities could not be procured along Imphal-Dimapur highway.
As many difficulties would be encountered while transporting essential goods along Imphal-Dimapur highway, drivers as well as truck owners would not like to take the highway.
The railway line cannot be blocked without understanding the problems faced by Manipur.
H Ranjit also appealed to make the Imphal regional office of FCI by providing necessary staff and provisions.