Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 14 2009:
Upgradation work of the Lumding-Badalpur rail track from metre gauge to broad gauge is beginning soon, said an official source.
The upgradation work has been necessitated as the rail track to be laid from Jiribam to Tupul and Tupul to Imphal would be broad gauge.
Train service along Lumding-Badalpur line would be suspended for six months when the track is being upgraded to broad gauge.
Necessary materials for the upgradation work have been arranged in advance, informed the source.
Lumding-Badalpur rail route under Silchar sector of the Northern Frontier Railway is crucial for transportation of petrol, diesel and PDS items to several parts of Assam, Tripura, Mizoram and Jiribam of Manipur.
These items are brought till Lumding by train before they are transported to different parts of some Northeastern States by road.
An official meeting was held on February 12 at Guwahati where the likely possibility of disturbance in transporting PDS items in the event of suspension of train service along Lumding-Badalpur line for track upgradation work was also discussed.The meeting convened by the Chief Operation Manager of the Northern Frontier Railway, Maligaon was attended by Railways Chief Operation Manager, Chief Traffic Planning Manager and other officials.
From the side of the FCI, the Area Manager and the Deputy Chief Manager participated in the meeting.
Deputy General Manager, Area Manager and the Chief Marketing Officer represented the IOC.
Transport Commissioner and the Deputy Director of the Transport Department BK Sharma who is also a member of the Lumding Hqs of the Divisional Railway User Consultative Committee also attended the meeting.
The State officials negated any possible disturbance on transportation of PDS items for Manipur due to suspension of train service.
However, IOC officials expressed desire to enhance security deployment along NH 39 .
To this, the Transport Commissioner and the Deputy Director (Transport) assured all possible assistance from the side of the State Government.
They also proposed another meeting on the same matter at Imphal soon.