Proposals for improving train network in Northeast: Mamata

The Railways have drawn up proposals for improving the train network in the north eastern region, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Friday.

The Railways have drawn up proposals for improving the train network in the north eastern region, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Friday.

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"The north eastern region is significant for us," Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee said during the Question Hour.

The safety trial run on the Kamakhya-Dibrugarh line will start on Friday and two new trains will be introduced as a new year gift to the region, she said.

Banerjee said Rs 705 crore has been earmarked for doubling and electrification of lines in the region.

The minister said out of the four pairs of new trains announced in the Railway Budget 2008-09 to cater to the region, the Gandhidham-Kamakhya Express (weekly) and Gaya-Kamakhya Express (weekly) have already been introduced.

The remaining two - Yesvantpur-New Dibrugarh Town Express and Kamakhya-New Dibrugarh Town Express - would be introduced after the commissioning of the new line between Moranhat and Chalkhowa, she said.

Banerjee said the proposal for stoppage of north and south bound trains at Civil Sub-divisional headquarters like Pathshala and Bijni in Assam has been examined but not found commercially viable.