TAKING a positive step towards the development of North-East, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh cleared the major hurdles in implementation of the national projects in the North-East including the Bogibeel-rail-cum-road project. The Prime Minister sanctioned creation of a dedicated fund called the ‘North East Rail Development Fund’ for the time-bound completion of the projects. Bogibeel Rail-cum-Road Bridge and the Rangia–Murkongselek gauge conversion projects will be completed at a cost of Rs1980 crore. Additional Budgetary support will be given to the Railways to complete the projects. A detailed plan with target dates is to be prepared for these projects with indication of annual requirement of funds.

The Ministry of Railways has been asked to set up a dedicated fund for these projects to ensure timely implementation. The cost overruns would be funded by the Railways from internal resources.

The Prime Minister has directed that a uniform funding pattern, on the same lines, be extended to the remaining five-sanctioned national projects for the North Eastern Region. The projects will be completed in five years. The Ministry of Railways has been asked to submit a proposal for the Cabinet approval.

Resources crunch to fund the projects were the main hurdles in execution of the rail projects envisaged to clear the transport bottlenecks in the NER. The Ministry of Railways had given up its hands pleading for additional funds for the Projects.

The four new projects were announced by the Railways for the development of the much-awaited railway infrastructure in the North East. The projects included the Bogibeel Bridge, Rangia-Murkongselek gauge conversion project, a new line from Azara to Byrnihat in Meghalaya and another new line from Dimapur to Kohima.

The Railway Minister’s budget address had led to confusion over fate of the four other national projects, as he did not make any mention of these projects. The set up of the special rail fund clear the air over the fate of these projects. The North Eastern Region can now boast of having the highest number of eight national projects.

The Bogibeel project is estimated to cost Rs 1,767 crore, while the Rangiya-Murkongselek gauge conversion project is estimated at Rs 915.70 crore. The direction to complete all the national projects within a time-frame of five years is likely to re-energise the project work.

Lalu Prasad had said his Ministry has sought an additional Rs 2,725 crore from the Finance Ministry for the national projects in North-East and Jammu and Kashmir. The projects include Jiribam-Imphal Road (Tupul) and Kumarghat-Agartala new line and Lumding-Silchar-Jiribum gauge conversion projects.

Meanwhile, Oil Industry Development Board (OIDB) has offered a term loan of Rs 327 crore to the Assam Gas Cracker Project, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dinsha Patel said. Providing a progress report of sorts, the Minister said various pre-project activities have been initiated. Project offices have been opened in Guwahati and Dibrugarh. Assam Government has transferred 890 acres of land to Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Limited (BCPL). The OIDB has offered a term loan with certain conditions and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is being inducted.