DIBRUGARH, Sept 20 - Union Minister of State for Railways, Suresh Channabasappa Angadi today said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is very keen on the progress of the north-eastern region and so the Railways is trying to connect all the NE States by 2022.
On his maiden visit to the country�s longest rail-cum-road Bogibeel bridge over the Brahmaputra, Angadi was today briefed about the structure of the 4.94 kilometre-long steel behemoth.
The Union Minister had a sojourn at the Bogibeel bridge site while on his way to Naharlagun, in Arunachal Pradesh this noon. He visited the main construction site of the bridge and closely observed the marvel of the fully-welded steel concrete bridge from the Brahmaputra on a ferry. Mohinder Singh, Chief Bridge Engineer, Northeast Frontier Railways explained all about the physical structure and other characteristics of the bridge to the visiting Minister. The Minister was flanked by local Moran MLA Chakradhar Gogoi and vice chairperson of Assam Gas Company Limited, Indra Gogoi.
In an interaction with newsmen, the Minister was visibly overwhelmed by the bridge and described it as prestigious structure and an engineering marvel. He expressed his gratitude to all the engineers and other workers who built the mega bridge.
On improvement of railway service in the region, the Minister said that Railways was making all-out efforts to connect all eight states of the northeast by 2022. �Our Prime Minister is emphasising on the development of North-east and accordingly we are seeking to lay more railway lines and enhance the connectivity in the region. Construction works are being carried out in full swing and we expect to connect entire North-east by 2022. The purpose of my visit to Arunachal Pradesh is to study further possibilities for expansion,� said the Minister.
Nearby villagers along with the local MLA also apprised the Minister about the erosion at the downstream Chaulkhowa doloni area. The Minister immediately asked his officials to take up the matter with the State government.
