CM Khandu pitches for Rajdhani Express from Naharlagun

CM Pema Khandu pitches for Rajdhani Express from Naharlagun
Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu inspecting the Vistadome Express

Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu has requested the Union government, particularly the ministry of railways, to convert the existing Naharlagun-New Delhi AC Express train service to Rajdhani Express.

Khandu made this fresh plea on December 19 while flagging off the Naharlagun-Tinsukia Vistadome Express at Naharlagun railway station before the Union minister of state for railways Darshana Jardosh, who joined the flag-off ceremony virtually from Guwahati.

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, along with Union minister Jardosh, flagged off the Guwahati-Naharlagun Vistadome Express from Guwahati.

Taking the opportune moment of the presence of the Railways MoS as well as top officials of the ministry, Khandu requested for conversion of the existing Naharlagun-New Delhi train service to Rajdhani Express, a press note from the CMO said.

“This is the demand of the people of Arunachal Pradesh, not singularly mine,” Khandu said.

During the function, Khandu informed the MoS Railways that ongoing surveys are in various stages on several new routes connecting Arunachal. Among these are the Murkongselek to Pasighat railway line will go on to Tezu-Rupai-Lekhapani connecting Margherita and Deomali, the strategic Misamari to Tawang line and the one connecting North Lakhimpur with Silapathar up to Bame.

“Once these routes are complete and made functional, Arunachal Pradesh will witness a sea change in terms of transportation,” Khandu said.

He informed that agri-horti farmers of Arunachal Pradesh are not in a position to produce in surplus due to lack of markets, which is a direct offshoot of transportation bottleneck.

He expressed hope that once railway connectivity reaches the interiors of the state, the rural economy will boom.

Khandu also requested the ministry to expedite construction of the Borum Bridge that will connect Borum with Naharlagun. He reasoned that soon the 4-lane road construction will begin in Naharlagun and Nirjuli and the said bridge will greatly help ease traffic congestion during that period.

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