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Flash Back July 1996
Paswan Assures development of Railways in NE
The Railway Minister, Mr. Ram Vilas Paswan recently said high priority would be accorded to development of railway infrastructure in the north – eastern region. Addressing a meeting of members of Parliament from the north – eastern states and Sikkim, Mr. Paswan said concerted efforts would be made to facilitate speedier development of the region and bring the seven states closer to each other besides linking them with the rest of the country.
The delegation included 25 MPs, including former Union Ministers Dr. Manmohan Singh, Mr. Santosh Mohan Dev, Mr. Pawan Singh Ghatowar and former Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha Mr. G. G. Swell.
The minister said the new 142 km Jogighopa – Guwahati line and the 17 km Dudhnoi – Depa rail link to Meghalaya would be completed by December 1997.
He said the outlay on railway projects in the north – eastern region had gone up from Rs. 348 crore in 1994 - 95 to Rs. 438 crore in 1995 – 96.
Computerized passenger reservation facilities were available at five locations in Assam besides Shillong which were well connected with the Calcutta PRS system, he said.
