Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
New Delhi, Nov 2 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma met Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in New Delhi on Sunday and sought massive expansion of the railway network in the northeastern state to strengthen regional and cross-border connectivity.
During the meeting that lasted for about 25 minutes at the official residence of the Railway Minister, Chief Minister Sarma made several proposals aimed at improving transport connectivity within Assam and with neighboring areas.
He requested for the construction of a new rail corridor connecting Umrangso in Dima Hasao district to Lanka in Hojai district as well as introduction of three new Amrit Bharat trains to and from the state.
The proposed link will not only enhance inter-state connectivity but will also open new avenues of tourism and economic development in the hilly areas of Assam, the Chief Minister said.
Chief Minister Sarma also urged the Railway Ministry to expedite work on the proposed Kokrajhar-Gelephu Mindfulness City Railway Line, which will connect Assam with Bhutan’s upcoming mindfulness city at Gelephu.
He said that the cross border project has immense potential to promote trade, tourism and cultural exchange between the two countries.
Chief Minister Sarma also appealed for more stoppages of major long distance trains passing through Assam, citing the need to provide better accessibility for passengers in small towns and rural areas.
He said that these measures will make rail transport more inclusive and accessible to the people of the state.
According to an official statement, Union Railway Minister Vaishnav responded positively to the Chief Minister’s proposals and assured that the ministry will implement the suggested measures in a time-bound manner.
Later, on social media platform X, CM Sarma described the discussion as “very productive” and shared that the Railway Minister had “kindly agreed” on all the action points.
“We deliberated on key issues to expand the footprint of railways in Assam to enhance overall connectivity for our people, including new trains, new railway link projects, faster implementation of ongoing works and additional stoppages,” he said, listing four key proposals.
The meeting reflects the Assam Government’s continued focus on infrastructure development as part of its larger vision to connect every district of the state with modern transport facilities.
–IANS
TDR/KHz