Agartala, Jul 4: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Saturday flagged off the Northeast’s first MEMU train service between Agartala and Assam’s Karimganj.
The MEMU train, which has a seating capacity for 3,600 passengers, will ensure passenger safety and comfort while travelling as it is equipped with CCTV cameras and a GPS tracker, he said.
Addressing the inauguration programme in Agartala, Saha thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for boosting railway connectivity in the frontier state.
“This is the first MEMU service in the Northeast. It will connect the two cities in the region,” he said.
Saha said the railway network in Tripura has been extended till Sabroom, the southernmost subdivision of the northeastern state.
“Sabroom will serve as a gateway to Bangladesh once the Maitri Setu is made operational to connect it with Ramgarh in the neighbouring country. The railway connectivity from Agartala to Akhaura (in Bangladesh) will be made operational shortly. People on both sides will be able to travel seamlessly,” he said.
Saha said the state government has already proposed laying double tracks between Assam’s Chandranathpur and Sabroom.
“For the double line project, the final location survey has been completed for 263 km, while a detailed project report (DPR) is in the final stage. The number of trains to and from Agartala station will be increased once the double line is laid. We also proposed introducing train services to cities such as Jammu, Gaya and Puri,” he said.
Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury said currently 18 trains, including 13 express trains and five DEMU services, are operational from the northeastern state.
Chowdhury said the state administration remains committed to strengthening public infrastructure and ensuring that the benefits of development reach every section of society through improved connectivity and citizen-centric governance.(PTI)
