PLATFORM HEIGHT RAISED FOR CONVENIENCE OF PASSENGERS

Maligaon, Guwahati; 31^st December 2014: For the convenience of passengers and to make boarding and de-boarding of trains a more comfortable experience, the height of the platform number o­ne of Guwahati Railway Station has been raised by 38.5 cm. A total length of 330 metres at the middle portion of the platform was raised from 45.5 cm to 84 cm at an approximate cost of Rs. 65 lakhs.

Moreover, stainless steel railings have been erected along the length of the platform bifurcating it for free flow of passengers during boarding and de-boarding trains. This will help the elderly and differently-abled persons. The renovated platform has been opened for passengers from 31^st December 2014.

PRIME MINISTER FLAGS OFF THE FIRST TRAIN FROM MEGHALAYA

Maligaon, 29^TH November 2014: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi flagged off the first train from Meghalaya today. At 5:50 PM, he flagged off the 55819 Up Mendipathar - Guwahati passenger from Guwahati through video link thereby putting Meghalaya o­n the Railway map of India. He also laid the foundation stone for the New Railway Line from Bhairabi to Sairang in Mizoram.

Speaking at the function held in the Railway Stadium at Maligaon, the Prime Minister stated that it was a historic moment for the Railways as development of the Northeast is a primary requirement for the development of the country. He also stated that developing the infrastructure was the first step towards overall development of any region. He was confident that providing good railway connectivity to the Northeast would help in developing the tremendous potential for tourism in this region.

Earlier, speaking o­n this occasion, Chief Minister of Meghalaya Dr Mukul Sangma thanked the Railways for making a beginning in providing rail connectivity in his state and said that he looked forward towards further investments from the Railways in his state. Shri Lal Thanhawla, Chief Minister of Mizoram also thanked the Railways for undertaking the Bhairabi – Sairang project for providing rail connectivity in his state. Chief Minister of Assam, Shri Tarun Gogoi, in his speech said that although there has been significant progress in the rail connectivity in the Northeast, further improvements are required.

The 19.75 km long line from Dudhnoi in Assam to Mendipathar in Meghalaya has been constructed at a cost of ` 275 crores. The 51.38 km long line from Bhairabi to Sairang is estimated to cost ` 2384 crores and is expected to be completed by March 2018.

The inaugural passenger train from Mendipathar to Guwahati has run o­n open timings. The 55820 Down Guwahati – Mendipathar passenger will leave Guwahati daily at 6:10 PM to arrive Mendipathar at 10 PM. The 55819 Up Mendipathar – Guwahati passenger will leave Mendipathar daily at 7 AM to reach Guwahati at 11:20 AM. There will be 12 stoppages for this train in between the two terminal stations.

IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE FOUND IN TRAIN

  An Improvised Explosive Device weighing about 6 kgs was recovered from a General Second Class coach of the 15471 Alipurduar Jn – Kamakhya Intercity Express today.The train, o­n entering Kendukana station in Kamrup District of Assam at about 10:55 AM was detained when, in course of a special ticket checking drive by a team led by a Railway Officer, a suspicious object was detected in the corridor near the toilet of the coach which was the fourth from the train engine. The train was detained at Kendukana and the Police and RPF rushed to the spot. o­n being checked by a sniffer dog, it was confirmed that the object was an explosive and it was taken to a safe spot o­n the platform and kept covered with bomb blankets. Finally the IED was removed from the platform area by the army with the help of a remotely operated vehicle to a nearby safer place and defused t around 4:15 PM.The Intercity Express had left Kendukana at 12:15 PM.