ITANAGAR, July 18 - Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Tuesday called on Union Minister for Railways Piyush Goyal in the national capital and requested him to expedite the ongoing railway projects in the State for building a robust rail network.
There are 11 railway projects in the State under various stages of implementation. These are, Bhalukpong-Tenga-Tawang (378 km), Silapathar-Bame-Aalo (92 km), Pasighat-Tezu-Parshuram Kund-Rupai (225 km), Itakhola-Seijosa (18 km), Doomdooma-Namsai-Wakro (96 km), Dangri-Roing (60 km), Deomali-Naharkatia (20 km), Lekhapani-Kharsang-Miao-Nampong-New Kamlang (Deban) (75 km), Tinsukia-Pasighat via Simalguri-Kanubari (300 km), Margherita-Deomali (31 km) and Murkongselek-Pasighat (26.15 km). Of these, survey for the last two projects has been completed while surveys for the rest are to be completed by 2019.
The Misamari-Bhalukpong-Tawang line would be one of the toughest and highest in the country. The railway line is expected to include at least 21 bridges and 145 kms of tunnel length.
Khandu, while expressing gratitude to the Ministries of Defence and Railways for the projects, requested the Union Minister to fast-track sanctioning of funds for the survey-completed projects.
He also urged the Ministry to monitor the survey process so that all are completed as scheduled and construction of the railway lines started soon.
The Chief Minister further drew the attention of Goyal, who also holds the Finance portfolio, towards the urgent need of an airport in the State capital and sought early sanction of funds for the Greenfield Airport at Hollongi.
Khandu had on Monday met Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha and discussed the pending issue. Sinha reportedly expressed the Ministry�s commitment to develop a robust and expansive aviation network in North East in accordance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi�s vision of �Sab Uden, Sab Juden�.
Goyal gave a positive response to the requests from Khandu and assured all assistance to the State.
