NEW DELHI, July 14 ? Moved by the onslaught against him for neglecting the North Eastern Region (NER), Railway Minister, Laloo Prasad today clarified that sanctions worth Rs 350 crore have been proposed for NF Railways towards ongoing projects. Replying to debate on the Railway Budget, Sri Yadav denied that the contention of the Members that the region had been given a raw deal, assuring that he proposed to visit the region to take stock of the problems. ?After the Budget Session I propose to visit the States and hold discussions with the MPs and the State Governments,? he said.
Earlier, participating in the debate, Members from the region belonging to various political parties in both the Houses of the Parliament assailed the Railway Minister for ignoring the region. But the Railway Minister in his reply in the Lok Sabha sought to debunk the claim by pointing out that the equal amount of Rs 315 crore has proposed for NF Railways same as last year?s sanction to take up the ongoing projects. The Railways needed around Rs 46,000 crore to complete all its ongoing projects, he informed the Members. He further assured Members that the Railway Ministry was preparing a proposal to take up projects in remote areas. The proposal to prioritize works in remote areas would be shortly submitted to the Planning Commission for clearance, he added.
Responding to pleas for construction of railway overbridge, Sri Yadav said that funds were lying unused with the Ministry. All the Chief Ministers would be asked to submit proposals for railway overbridges, he added. The Railway Minister also sought to put an end to the controversy over recruitment in Railway Protection Force by announcing that the recruitment would be held State-wise and the Railway Recruitment Board would not be involved in the recruitment of RPF personnel.
Earlier, Congress Party, AGP and Bodo MPs in both the Houses pressed for early completion of the ongoing projects in Brahmaputra and Barak Valleys. They underscored the need to complete projects like the Bogibeel rail-cum-road bridge, gauge conversion project between Lumding and Silchar, increase in frequency of Rajdhani train. Participating in the discussion, Dr Arun Kumar Sarma protested the low allocation for Bogibeel Bridge reminding the Railway Minister of the promises he made when he had visited Assam in the aftermath of the clashes in the State. He asserted that though it was a populist Budget, there was nothing in it for the region. He called for a new line connecting Guwahati with Mukalmuwa via Sathaibari. He also demanded a railway overbridge at North Lakhimpur and gauge conversion of Dhubri and Golokganj.
Earlier, this morning Sarbananda Sonowal was the last speaker to participate in the discussion when following a brief hue and cry, Speaker allowed him to speak briefly. Sri Sonowal charged that the Railway Minister that while presenting the Budget he forgot about the NER. The AGP MP called for setting up a separate Railway zone for the NER including Sikkim, double BG tracks, adequate sanctions for Bogibeel bridge, regular Rajdhani Service to Dibrugarh, early completion of the Rangiya Rail Division besides 100 percent job reservation for locals in Railways among others. Yesterday, Lalitmohan Suklabaidya participating in the debate demanded a visit by a team of MPs to assess the progress of the gauge conversion work between Silchar and Lumding, rescheduling of local trains of Barak Valley, setting up of a railway division in Badarpur. In the Rajya Sabha UG Brahma also participated in the Railway debate.