GUWAHATI, April 13 � Union Minister for Railway Suresh Prabhu met Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi at the latter�s official residence here today, official sources said.
Gogoi requested Prabhu to increase the speed of long distance trains from Assam and to improve the facilities in these trains. The Union Minister while agreeing to it said the Ministry of Railway would work upon it at the earliest.
Gogoi also urged Prabhu to modernise the Guwahati Railway Station and to upgrade the Kamakhya Railway Station to cater to the growing rush of passengers and pilgrims. Prabhu assured Gogoi that he would initiate necessary measures for modernisation and upgradation of both the stations.
The Union Railway Minister suggested that the Government of Assam could tie up with the Indian Railway for forming a Joint Venture Company for development of railway stations and tourist circuits, including the Lumding-Badarpur section. Prabhu said that the Railways would come up with a world class terminal at north bank of Guwahati through PPP mode.
Chief Minister Gogoi requested the Railway Minister for a separate zone for the North Eastern Frontier Railways as �candidates from the region will get a fair chance in the recruitment process.�
Gogoi urged Prabhu to expedite the construction of the Bogibeel bridge and for a parallel rail bridge near the existing Saraighat rail bridge owing to increase in the volume of goods traffic.
The Chief Minister submitted a memorandum to the Railway Minister enlisting various demands.
The meeting was attended, among others, by Chief Secretary Jitesh Khosla, Additional Chief Secretary to Chief Minister MGVK Bhanu and NF Railway General Manager, Ranjit Singh Virdi, the sources added.
