A small step brings 18-year-old dream closer- First successful trial of Lumding-Silchar BG track raises hopes of project completion by March 2015
A STAFF REPORTER
Guwahati, Nov. 7: Through the hilly terrain of Dima Hasao, a diesel engine travelled 26km on the newly constructed broad gauge tracks, sending the message that the day was not far when it would travel the entire stretch of 210km between Lumding and Silchar.
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of the construction division of NF Railway today said the diesel engine would zoom through 17 tunnels and 500 bridges in Borail hills by March 31, 2015, ending an 18-year-long wait of the people of Barak Valley.
The clock struck 9.25 last morning when the engine left Patharkhola railway station in Nagaon district of Assam amid cheers. It crossed Manderdisa and Hatikhali stations and reached Debalong at 12.45pm. Then it returned and reached Patharkhola at 3.35pm. It was a perfect ride.
The six-month mega block had begun on October 1 amidst doubts in some quarters about the timely completion of the project. The doubts were not unfounded though, as the broad gauge conversion project has been delayed by 18 years because of factors ranging from militancy to hostile terrain.
"Now we can confidently say that we will be able to run the broad gauge engine by March 31," a railway official said. "So far, we have completed the cut-and-connect activity at 90 of the 102 locations. Eight lakh cubic metres of earthwork, out of 12 lakh cubic metres, was completed during the mega block. Track-linking of the broad gauge line is also progressing satisfactorily at various locations on the Lumding-Silchar route," he added.
On October 19, the railway made a major breakthrough in the project when it managed to complete the difficult task of linking Tunnel No. 10 from both ends. The 3,095-metre tunnel located near New Haflong town is the longest and took several years to construct.
"After completion of Tunnel No. 10, the trial run of the diesel engine was another major accomplishment for us. It has brought great delight to those involved with the conversion process," the official said.
Since a major stretch of the project is located in hilly terrain, the existing metre gauge (MG) alignment has sharp curves and steep gradients not permitted in a broad gauge (BG) alignment. Therefore, the BG alignment does not follow the MG alignment and criss-crosses the MG track at 102 locations.
The Lumding-Silchar gauge conversion, which is a part of the national project, GC of Lumding-Silchar and branch lines, covers 420.26km at a cost of Rs 5,185.44 crore. Till July this year, its expenditure was Rs 4,306.42 crore. It involves the construction of a 54-metre tall and 705-metre long bridge over the Dayang. The maximum permissible speed of train will be 70km per hour in hill stations and 100km per hour in the plains.
Because of shortage of skilled labourers in the area, the railway has brought 3,000 additional workers from other places to work in this section
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