Itanagar residents thrilled to have train access

Residents of Arunachal Pradesh capital Itanagar have expressed their happiness of the city now being accessible by train.

Itanagar has become the second capital in the eight north eastern states, after Guwahati, to appear on the railway map of the country.

The passenger train will travel between Naharlagun and Dekargaon in Assam, a journey of 181 kilometers.

A passenger said: "I have come from Harmutty. I feel really good travelling by train. It will be even better if there are more facilities. It will be very convenient for us."

Another passenger said: "It's good that the railway service has reached us. We will get to travel to Harmutty by paying Rs. 5 only. When we take a bus or tempo, we have to pay more; around Rs. 30 to 40. That is why we are very happy that train services have reached Arunachal."

The construction of the 22-km-long broad gauge line from Harmuti in Assam to Naharlagun in Arunachal Pradesh cost Rs.406 crore. There are 46 minor bridges and 11 major bridges on the line.

Plans are on to link Arunachal Pradesh with New Delhi with the launch of Rajdhani and Shatabdi Express trains.

Sugato Lahiri, Chief Public Relations Officer, Northeast Frontier Railway, said:"By making the railway line up to Naharlagun, we have linked Arunachal Pradesh with the railway map of India, and it is having access to all other places connected by railways. This is expected to provide a lot of impetus to the commercial activities in the place.Moreover, it will also make it easier for the people from that place to go out to other parts for job or education and also for people from other places to come here." he government has been taking steps to expand the rail network in the landlocked northeastern region. Railway projects in Assam and Manipur are underway.

Meghalaya also recently became a part of the Indian Railway network with the first rail engine reaching the Mendipathar railway station in North Garo Hills district from the Dudhnoi railway station in Assam for a trial run.

Better connectivity will give a fillip to the tourism industry in the region, and will also speed up industrialization.

It will also boost trade and people to people contact with rest of the country, as well as neighbouring ASEAN countries.