Title - Northeast's All Major Rail Projects Delayed

All major railway projects in the North-east including the much-hyped national projects have suffered cost and time over-runs. A status report on the mega rail projects tabled in the Rajya Sabha by Minister of State for Railways, Bharatsinh Solanki in reply to a question by Biren Baishya revealed that all national projects including Bogibeel-rail-cum-road-bridge, Rangia-Murkongselek and Lumding-Silchar Gauge conversion projects have suffered delays.

The status report said that 17 major projects have slipped deadlines. Some of the projects were sanctioned almost a decade back but are yet to be completed. The Dudhnoi-Mendipathar Project was sanctioned in 1992-1993 and the project is now targeted for completion in March 2013. The earthwork, bridges and track work are in advance stages of execution, the report said. The much-delayed Lumding-Silchar Project has been affected due to militant activities. Earthwork, bridge work and tunnelling have been taken up all along the alignment.

The Railways have sanctioned Rs 400 crore in the current year’s budget, the report said. The fate of the six national projects hangs in balance and in case of some projects like the Dimapur-Kohima (Zubza) Project sanctioned in 2006-2007, final location survey has been completed , while approval of alignment is pending with the State Government. The Bogibeel Project, sanctioned in 1997-1998, another national project has missed its deadline and is now scheduled for completion in December 2015. The work of construction of embankment, major and minor bridges has been completed in north andsouth bank. The 44 Km Moranhat-Chalkhowa in south bank has been completed and commissioned, and contract for main bridge superstructure awarded, the status reportsaid.

A couple of other projects are scheduled to be completed by 2014-2015. The Teteliya-Byrnihat Project, a national project was examined as alternate alignment to Azara-Byrnihat. Entire land has been acquired, in Assam portion he said. The final location survey including staking of alignment on ground of the Bhariabi-Sairang Project has been completed and is scheduled to be completed by March 2015, the report said.