BISWANATH CHARIALI, Aug 6 � The slow pace of work in the gauge conversion of Rangiya-Murkongchelek railway line in northern Assam has irked the people of this large area.
The Union Ministry of Railways started execution of this project in 2011 to expedite railway traffic in this economically backward area, which was connected through metre-gauge railway line in the late 60s. It would be pertinent to mention here that railway movement has been totally disrupted along the 510-km long line since the past one year due to the gauge conversion work.
The North-East Frontier Railway has set March, 2013 as deadline for completion of the work. But the construction department of the NF Railway is yet to begin construction work at 12 big river bridges, including over Jiya Bharali, Borgang and Buroi rivers and several over-bridges. Likewise, construction work of railway stations at Biswanath Chariali, Halem, Gohpur, Balipara etc. are going on at a snail�s pace.
According to sources, the BG line between Rangiya and Rangapara was due for completion by March 2012 while Rangapara-Lakhimpur BG line was due by December, 2012 and Lakhimpur-Murkong chelek BG line by December 2013. But people allege that if the construction work goes on at the present speed, it is quite uncertain that the project will be complete even by 2014.
Meanwhile, sources in the NF Railway have attributed this slow pace of work to terrorist problem, shortage of cement and iron bars, frequent Assam bandhs etc. On the other hand, a large number of employees have been transferred to other parts citing reason of gauge conversion. The people of northern Assam have urged the Government to hasten the gauge conversion work being carried out by the NF Railway.
