BADARPUR, Oct 4 - The ventilation system in tunnel number 9 and problem in railway tracks between Halflong and Harangajao areas, are said to be the main causes for delay in starting of train services from Lumding-Badarpur Broad Gauge (BG) Hill Section to Silchar.
Addressing a press conference at the Badarpur Railway BG station building recently, the NF Divisional Railway Manager, Niraj Kumar � who came by a special train for inspecting the BG conversion works � said, �I admit that there is a ventilation problem in the tunnel number 9, which is three-and-a-half-km long. If a passenger train has to halt inside the tunnel for some technical problems, the passengers will face breathing problems due to lack of oxygen.�
However, he assured that the ventilation problem would be solved soon, adding that there were also some problems of railway tracks in the Haflong and Harangajao areas, which were damaged due to torrential rain. Soil under the tracks was also washed away in many areas.
But the repairing work of the damaged tracks was going on in full swing, he said. �First, we are solving these sensitive issues before starting the passenger train services,� the DRM said.
It may be mentioned here that for running passenger train services in the BG line, from Lumding-Badarpur BG Hill Section to Silchar, the Union Ministry of Railways is putting pressure on the Railway Department to complete the construction work soon.
However, a few days ago, the NF Railway�s General Manager, RK Gupta, said that before November, there is no possibility to start the passenger train services in the section.
An inspection team, led by DRM, Niraj Kumar, also took stock of the work situation. Other members of the team were: Chief Engineer (Railway) Rabindra Ram, Deputy Chief Engineer AH Ansari, among others.
