Ten North-Eastern Railway Projects declared as National Projects NORTH-EAST REGION RAIL DEVELOPMENT FUND TO BE SET UP
	14:31 IST

RAILWAY BUDGET 2009-10 Ten rail projects in the North-East region have been declared as national projects. These include Bogibeel rail cum road bridge and gauge conversion of Lumding-Silchar-Jiribam, Rangia-Murkongselek. To ensure strict adherence to time schedules for completion on these projects, senior officers are being entrusted with their close monitoring. This was announced by the Minister of Railways, Kumari Mamata Banerjee in Parliament today. Presenting the Railway Budget for 2009-10, she said, the North-East Region is very sensitive and its projects are in progress for providing connectivity to State capitals of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram. The Minister said, the construction of national project in Sikkim from Sivok to Rangpo is proposed to be entrusted to IRCON for time bound completion. The surveys for new lines connecting Gangtok and Shillong have been completed and the proposals would be further processed for necessary clearances. Kumari Mamata Banerjee said, a proposal for creation of North-East Region Rail Development Fund has already been initiated to ensure necessary funds for timely completion of National Projects in the region. The Minister said, the work of Lumding-Silchar gauge conversion is getting adversely affected due to adverse law and order conditions in the area. She said, the matter has been taken up with the concerned authorities for providing necessary security so that the work could progress smoothly. MKP/AD/AS