BG conversion: Arunachal-Jiribam route to connect Imphal

SILCHAR, Feb 24: With the gauge conversion of the erstwhile meter-gauge line from Arunachal to Jiribam, one more northeastern state Manipur has been brought into the broad gauge railway map of India. The metre gauge line from Arunachal near Silchar to Jiribam in Manipur (50.39 km) was constructed in the year 1989-90. The Arunachal station is on the Lumding-Badarpur-Silchar route which was taken up for gauge conversion in 1996-97. Gauge conversion of this line was sanctioned as a material modification to Lumding-Silchar gauge conversion project in the year 2000-01, according to a competent NF Railway source here.

The line between Arunachal and Jiribam is of considerable importance as it is the feeder route of food grains and other essential commodities to the state of Manipur from Jiribam station.

The revised estimated cost of gauge conversion of this line is Rs.252 crore. The line has been constructed with a speed potential of 100 km per hour and ruling gradient of 1 in 100. The line passes through two crossing stations, namely Moinarbond and Sribar, and also has four halt stations at New Silchar, Ranigaon, Kamranga and Jirighat.

The gauge conversion works of the line have been completed and the first freight train on the section was flagged off on February 20. On this date, Union Railway Minister, Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu, also flagged Purvottar Samparka Kranti Express from here to New Delhi.

Prior to it, first commercial BG freight train to Jirania (Agartala) was also flagged off by him through remote. Inspection of this section by Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) is proposed by end of this month, the source adds. The Arunachal-Jiribam route will take to Tupul-Imphal. This will connect the capital of Manipur.(Source:SentinelAssam)