NEW DELHI, May 26 � The much-delayed Lumding-Silchar Broad Gauge Conversion project is now scheduled to be completed by December 2013, as authorities are grappling with law and order and land acquisition problems.
A review meeting chaired by the (DoNER minister Bijoy Krishna Handique took stock of the �Broad Gauge conversion of the Lumding � Silchar � Jiribam Railway Line� Project facing a delay of over 15 years. Secretary, Ministry of DoNER along with the representatives from the Railways attended the meeting.
The Railway authorities apprised that out of 377 km formation is ready for 331 km and 110 km of track have been completed. They also informed that 17 tunnels of length 10650 metres are under construction out of which, four tunnels with a length of 5650 metres are complete, official sources said.
Work on the most critical bridge on Doyang river is on in full swing and would be completed by December 2012. The construction of the longest
tunnel with a length of 3.235 km is under progress after the works restarted from October, 2010. The tunnel is expected to be completed by December, 2013, said sources.
The entire Broad Gauge Conversion is scheduled to be commissioned by that time. Land acquisition issues in certain small areas in three districts of Barak Valley are still pending with the State Government. At least eight companies of Central Para-military forces have been deployed for providing security to the construction sites, sources said.
The DoNER Minister expressed concern that the project has taken an unusually long time of more than 15 years after the date of commencement and there has been a strong resentment among the people, particularly in the Barak Valley, sources said.
He told Railway officials that he would review the project in September at Silchar and advised that Railways may speed up the implementation. He also suggested Railways may consider designating a PRO for briefing the public about the progress of the project and also seek their help in timely completion.
The cost of the project was revised to Rs 3909 crore and is identified under the category �Infrastructure in the North East� by Prime Minister�s Office for special monitoring by Ministry of DoNER.
