Nagaon, April 8: The Centre is considering two new rail routes connecting Silghat station of central Assam's Nagaon district with Lakhimpur and Golaghat districts.
One route will link Lakhimpur over the Brahmaputra and the other will connect Khumtai in neighbouring Golaghat. The two projects are expected to bring a new dimension to the rail network in the Northeast.
Minister of state for railways Rajen Gohain today said the ministry would go ahead with the projects once preliminary survey and related work are completed. "Our mission is to bring about a big change in the communication system in this part of the country and this is a part of it."
Gohain and his cabinet colleague Manoj Sinha were special guests at the inaugural function of a diesel electric multiple unit (Demu) train between Silghat and Guwahati. The Demu train, which will replace an existing passenger train, will take four-and-a-half hours to reach Guwahati, an hour less than what it takes now.
Sinha also inaugurated a water treatment plant at the Silghat railway station.
The train route from Silghat was commissioned during the British rule in 1920 as it was the only place to cross the Brahmaputra.
Later, the metre gauge route was discontinued in 1995 and Silghat remained disconnected. In 2006, the train route was reconnected and a new train was started between Silghat and Guwahati in 2008.
Dispur's initiative to establish jute mills made Silghat a busy township in the state.
"Withdrawal of the rail route, commissioning of the Koliabhomora Bridge that made the naval route less important were some of the reasons why Silghat town faced an untimely death. Current measures could give a new lease of life to the once-busy town," said resident Sumnath Saikia.
"The existing passenger train service was very poor as it took five-and-a-half hours to reach Guwahati from Silghat. The new train will reach the destination in less time and it has sophisticated facilities. This is significant for Silghat," said Ratnadeep Mandal, a businessman.
The railways will spend Rs 25 crore to upgrade Silghat railway station, Gohain said.
