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BG conversion work at Badarpur on at warfooting

By Debasish banik

BADARPUR, Oct 31 � Broad Gauge (BG) track conversion work is going on at a war footing in at Badarpur Railway Junction, after the mega block came into force form October 1 last. The British-constructed Badarpur railway station with its four platforms and various offices of the railways have been completely demolished. A wide and long railway overbridge, which was also constructed during the British period has also been demolished. Besides, a large number of railway and other quarters and markets (those which have been allegedly illegally occupied by people encroaching on railway land for many many years), will also be demolished soon. All this is being done in so that the BG conversion work is completed within the time fixed by the Government, for starting the Broad Gauge line in Lumding-Badarpur hill section to Silchar.

Due to the demolition of the Badarpur railway level crossing gates, railway overbridges, railway station including the platforms, many railway departmental offices, uprooting of the old MG lines, the entire Badarpur Railway Junction area, has now turned into a vast open field. Reliable sources told this correspondent that a large number of shops and various houses built illegally on railway land will be evicted gradually in different phases. A major chunk of the MG lines of Badarpur Junction have been completely uprooted and work is on the rest.

Railway sources stated that the new railway station building of Badarpur Railway Junction is going to be completed within a short period. The building will have a new design will be connected with the road, whose construction is going on, near Deorail village. This road will be known as the New Station Road and this New Station Road will be connected with the Old Station Road of Badarpur, near the Badarpur Hanuman Mandir. Besides this, a link-cross line has also been set up, near Defarpar village. Railway sources said that most probably before December 31 of the current year, the new railway station building will opened to the public.

The old-timers of Badarpur have turned nostalgic over the demolition of the old Britsh-era railway buildings and are in a way mourning the passing away of an era. All the vestiges of the British period have now gone, which has created a sort of vacuum in the hearts of the people. The railway �siren�, which was sounded during the train-accident in the Lumding-Badarpur hill section and several other places in Badarpur Railway Subdivisional Junction, has also been closed down.

Meanwhile, the Senior PRO of NF Railway Construction Department, DC Borah, in a statement recently informed that the work is progressing smoothly and the MG/BG cut and connect at 44 locations out of the total 102 locations have so far been completed. He also informed that connectivity between Mandardisa and Hatikhali was achieved on October 16. The tunnel No 11 and the much awaited and difficult tunnel No 10, which is the longest one in the entire project with a length of 3.23 km, were also made through on October 13 and October 19 respectively. He also informed that there are altogether 17 tunnels in the Lumding-Badarpur hill section to Silchar BG project. The balance work of tunnels like-benching, lining and inverting will be completed before January 31, 2015, he said.

Some engineers of the NF Railway Construction Department told this correspondent that the total length of this BG project from Lumding-Badarpur hill Section to Silchar is 210 km, and the total number of tunnels is 17. The project has a total of 79 major bridges (sub-structure), 79 major bridges (super structure), 340 minor bridges, 28 railway stations and 4 halt stations. Among the 28 railway stations, Lumding, Haflong, Silchar and Badarpur railway stations have been identified as very important railway stations of the BG route. Railway sources also informed that most of the Sub Structure and Super Structure, major bridges construction have been completed. The construction of the rests will be completed during the mega-block period.

Meanwhile, in view of the decision of the railway authority for eviction of the unauthorisedly-constructed shops, business establishments, residences etc., on railway land of Badarpur, a large number of families and proprietors of the shops and businessmen have expressed deep concern and earnestly appealed to the railway authority not to take any decision of eviction at this moment, as they have no alternative place of business or residence. But railway sources said that the department�s decision is final.

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