The Hindu Business Line : New Bengal rail link likely by March

SOUTH Eastern Railway's Rs 294-crore 88.9 km Tamluk-Digha new broad gauge rail link project, foundation stone for which was laid on May 4, 1984, is now poised to attain fruition.

The last leg of the much-awaited link, the 33-km long Kanthi-Digha section, involving track-linking and consolidation over difficult terrain is now expected to be completed by end August.

And the first train from Howrah to the beach resort of Digha in the Midnapore district at a distance of over 160 kms, is planned to make the inaugural run sometime before March 31, 2005.

The Tamluk-Keshabpur-Narghat-Kanthi-Ramnagar-Digha alignment will be connecting the important trade centres of Midnapore, which may go a long way to promote trade and commerce, and provide employment.

There will be 11 passenger halts, with Digha being the terminal station.

The fare structure is likely to be two-tier, that is, Rs 60 for travel in the sleeper class for mail, passenger trains, and Rs 30 for chair cars, if trains are run as day trains. It has not yet been decided whether the service would be during day, or as an overnight trip.

The land acquired is 624 hectares, and the major and minor bridges on the route number 168.. The Digha station will have two platforms.

Talking to a team of visiting presspersons from Kolkata at the Kanthi construction site, Mr R.R. Bhandari, General Manager, SER, said "we hope to roll the first engine on this section by September-October, after which there will be a trial run of a goods train. And once the Commissioner of Railway (CRS) completes the mandatory inspections by November-December, we plan to run the first pair of trains by February 2005."

Asked if he was planning to complete the project ahead of schedule, that is March 31, 2005, he said "we would like to keep at least a month in our pocket".

Later addressing a pres conference at the Digha station, Mr Bhandari confirmed that the Rs 26-crore funds now required to complete project would not be a problem. Some Rs 11 crore has been allotted during 2004-05, and the balance is expected with the passage of the rail Budget.

Tamluk-Kanthi section (57 kms) was opened for passenger traffic on a "one engine only system" by the former Railway Minister, Mr Nitish Kumar, on November 20, 2003.

Mr Bhandari said officers were working on a projected freight traffic plan to examine the feasibility of running a freight train on the line, over and above the passenger service.

The main items of produce from Midnapore to Kolkata on a daily basis would include agri commodities such as pan and cashew nuts, and marine products like sea fish. Admitting that business was first priority for SER, which was primarily a freight carrying railway of the Indian Railway system, he said the capacity to run as many as 10 pairs of trains daily has already been built in, on a 24-hour basis.

. "We will deliver the rail link, and even consider a joint tourist promotion programme, if approached by the State Government," he added.

Mr Animesh.K.Ganguly, Chief Administration Officer, Construction, SER, said track-linking, bridges and earthwork in Kanthi-Digha will be completed by August-end.

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