Agartala: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Tripura next month to launch a slew of projects including flagging off Vande Bharat Express between Agartala and Guwahati from here.
The state government has already approached PMO seeking his availability after Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) issued a green signal for starting India’s fastest train Vande Bharat connecting two important cities of Northeast daily.
The NFR has also almost completed the railway line electrification work in Tripura and South Assam to ensure super-fast train service from Tripura. Presently, premiere trains like Tejash Express to Delhi and Humsafar to Bengaluru have been operating from Agartala by Diesel engine, besides a few more express trains connecting important cities.
The proposed Vande Bharat Express is scheduled to complete a 571 km journey between Agartala and Guwahati in seven and a half hours stopping at Ambassa, Dharmanagar of Tripura, and New Karimganj, Badarpur Junction, and Hojai of Assam. The train will start at 6 AM every day and reach Guwahati at 1.30 PM and the return journey will start from Guwahati at 2 PM and reach Agartala at 9.30 PM, sources said.
“At present trains take at least 12 hours to reach Guwahati from Agartala by diesel engine. The journey through hill sections of South Assam up to Lumding from Badarpur takes six hours to cover around 160 kilometers distance. After putting trains into electric lines the time coverage will be reduced to half, which will boost the business of Northeastern states with Tripura instead of concentrating on Guwahati,” Transport officials said.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha said that the state government has planned to inaugurate the new infrastructure installed in Tripura Sundari temple under the centrally sponsored schemes in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“The construction works are complete. The agencies engaged in the work are giving the finishing touches to the projects. We are eager to have Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the inauguration ceremony,” Dr Saha said, adding that under PM’s guidance, Tripura tourism has reached a new height and many more new opportunities are coming to add tourist attractions.
