Opening of Eklakhi – Balurghat new line
The Union Minister of Railways, Shri Lalu Prasad, accompanied by the Union Minister of Defence, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, will inaugurate 87.26 kilometre long Eklakhi-Balurghat new broad gauge line at Balurghat, Distt. South Dinajpur, West Bengal, completed at an estimated cost of Rs. 226.11 crores, on December 30, 2004. The 14 kilometres long Eklakhi-Gazol section of this line was already commissioned on February 11, 2002. the line will serve two districts of Malda and Dakshin Dinajpur, which are predominantly rice growing areas. It will boost marketing of agricultural produce. In addition, this line will also provide connectivity with Bangladesh via Hilli which is about 26 kilometres from Balurghat.
Besides, the Railway Minister will lay Foundation Stone for construction of railway link including bridge between Azimganj and Jiaganj in Murshidabad district at Bhatapara Ghat- Jiaganj. The 6.540 kilometres long line is to cost Rs. 46.7 crores. Jiaganj, an existing railway station of Sealdah Division on Sealdah-Krishnanagar-Lalgola route and Azimganj, an existing railway station of Howrah Division on Howrah-Bandel-Katwa-Azimganj-Malda route of Eastern Railway will provide direct link with Bihar through Sahibganj loop and with North-East to Malda. This will provide an alternative connection between Howrah and Sealdah. The restoration of this old link will also provide a shorter rail connection with the neighbouring Bangladesh via Azimganj Junction-Murshidabad-Ranaghat-Gede-Darshana (in Bangladesh) or Ranghat-Bongaon-Petropole-Benapole (in Bangladesh).
The Railway Minister will also lay Foundation Stone for commencement of work on 48.25 kilometres long new Broad gauge railway line between Bankura-Chhatna-Mukutmanipur. This forms part of 187 kilometres long Bankura-Damodar River Project Gauge Conversion, Bowaichandi-Khanna new line, Rajnagar-Chanchai new line and Bankura(Chhatna)-Mukutmonipur new line with an anticipated cost of Rs. 158.16 crores.
The Minister will also flag off train services on Kanthi-Digha new broad gauge railway line besides remote opening of newly completed Mahendralal Nagar to Amda broad gauge for regular train services .
The Railway Minister will inaugurate 32.4 kilometres long Kanthi-Digha new broad gauge line, which forms part of 87.5 kilometres long Tamluk-Digha new line project with the flagging of new train services. In addition, he will unveil steam locomotive of Bankura-Damodar River Valley Railway placed on a Pedestal outside Bankura Railway station at Bankura.
(Release ID :6114)