Rail Budget 2016: Better connectivity to northeast topmost priority, says Suresh Prabhu

In his Budget speech, Prabhu said that Railways has opened the long-awaited Lumding-Silchar broad gauge section in Assam

Mizoram and Manipur will soon have broad gauge network with Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu today announcing that better connectivity to the northeastern states is of utmost priority.

Presenting the Railway Budget for 2016-17, he said Indian Railways has opened the long-awaited Lumding-Silchar broad gauge section in Assam, thus connecting Barak Valley with rest of the country.

It also brought Tripura capital Agartala on to the broad gauge network.

"Better connectivity to the northeastern states is of utmost priority for the Indian Railways. States of Mizoram and Manipur are also set to come on the Broad Gauge map of the country soon with commissioning of the Kathakal-Bhairabi and Jiribam Gauge conversion projects," Prabhu said.

The Railway Budget for 2016-17 today spared passengers and goods movement from any increase in tariffs while it announced introduction of three new superfast trains and creation of dedicated north-south, east-west and east coast freight corridors by 2019.