The Northeast Frontier (NF) Railway, as part of its Business Development Unit (BDU) initiatives, from Saturday started operation of a leased Parcel Cargo Express Train (PCET) from Assam to Goa carrying ready-made garments, tea, bamboo products and other handicrafts, spices, edible oil.
In another important step, NF Railway has also started operation of goods trains from other states of India to the Rani Gaidinliu Station at Tamenglong in Manipur.
Officials said that the first goods train reached Rani Gaidinliu Station carrying 53 wagons of ballast needed for the under construction Jiribam-Imphal (111 km) new railway line. Rani Gaidinliu Station is 24 km away from Jiribam (along the Manipur-Assam border) by rail and is situated by the side of river Makru over which a giant rail bridge has been constructed.
More goods trains carrying other items, including essential commodities, will be arriving soon, providing a boost to the local economy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union DoNER (Development of North Eastern Region) Minister G Kishan Reddy on Saturday expressed their confidence that the connectivity of the Northeastern region would be further boosted.
Modi tweeted: “Transformation of the North-East continues. Manipur’s connectivity will be enhanced and commerce will be boosted. Wonderful products from the State can travel all over the nation.” Reddy said in his tweet: “Historic day for Manipur and entire North-East, after 75 years of India’s Independence, first goods train reaches Rani Gaidinliu Railway Station, Tamenglong in Manipur. The Narendra Modi Government is committed to enhancing infrastructure connectivity and economic prosperity in the NER.”
Source : The sentinel
