Indian Railways are making headlines each day and it is because of our vigorous and energetic Central Rail Ministry. The Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu is a very progressive and hard working minister in the Indian politics. He is known to help railway passengers all over the country just by a tweet. There are many incidents where he has handled the situation very admirably and shown that he is the best man for Indian Railways. In this direction, a major step towards strengthening the Indo-Bangladesh connectivity is being taken and a foundation stone of Agartala-Akhaura Broad Gauge (BG) rail link project is being laid.
Suresh Prabhu has announced that Railway Ministry is likely to invest Rs. 7000 crores in the seven Northeastern states. The amount is depicted to be invested in the 2016-2017 fiscal year. In the previous year, 2015-2016, an amount of Rs. 2702 crores was invested for this purpose. According to Suresh Prabhu, there will be an Agartala-Delhi weekly passenger train service.
“Northeast India is a priority area for the central government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is personally giving special emphasis for the all round development of the region,” Prabhu said. “Increase of inter-state connectivity and connectivity between the region and the rest of the country are being given the highest priority. Available connectivity will boost the region’s economy,” he added.
The flagging off ceremony at the Agartala railway Station was attended by various esteemed dignitaries like Bangladesh Railway Minister Mazibul Hoque, Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy, Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, and Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain along with top officials of the Indian and Bangladesh Governments.
Also good news is that, Prabhu invited the Railway Minister of Bangladesh to Delhi to discuss about increased rail connectivity between India and Bangladesh. “India is keen to increase railway connectivity with Bangladesh. If the facilities of the Chittagong port can be used, then trade and economy of both northeast India and Bangladesh will flourish,” he added.
The seven Northeastern states of India are very beautiful and also could be a major tourist destination in India. Thus, Suresh Prabhu emphasized on a greater connectivity in the states. He had planned to sign an agreement with all the state governments of the region to undertake specific joint tourism development projects. Greater rail connectivity in the region will result in the highest per capita income in the country. Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is asked to explore possibility of developing combined tourist packages which includes Northeast states and Bangladesh.
On this occasion, the Bangladesh Railway Minister Mazibul Hoque under direction of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had announced a revival of all the pre-1965 railway connectivity of Bangladesh with India. “We want very close connectivity between our two friends (India and Bangladesh) and closer people to people relations,” said Hoque.
Hoque, who had came India on Sunday morning to attend the function, said that PM Modi and Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar had settle down to help Bangladesh in order to curb terrorism in the country.
Sarkar said, “Without the development of connectivity, how can industrialization take place and boost the economy?”
He also mentioned that the previous Congress Prime Ministers, including the late Rajiv Gandhi, had seriously neglected the crucial demand for extension of railway network in Tripura.
It is significant to note that Tripura is currently facing an acute fuel crisis owing to the damage of Highway. The State Government had to resort to the famous odd-even formula for vehicles for refueling to tide over the crisis.
Railway Minster Prabhu had known the matter and immediately instructed the officials to take necessary counter actions to bring in more fuel for the state through Railways. He said trains will carry fuel like the ones carrying water to Latur will start to help the state tide over the present crisis.
