From a Correspondent Sentinel Assam
SILCHAR, March 7 : The foundation stone for the gauge conversion work from meter to broad-gauge in the Silchar–Lumding track was officially laid in 1997 by the then Prime Minister Deve Gouda. Although politicians and some noted personalities of the Barak and Brahmaputra valley including AASU adviser Dr Samujjal Bhattacharjee often claim that the ‘gap’ between the two valleys have been minimized as a result of this venture, only time will prove the same.

But given the pace of work, the completion of the project seems to be a distant dream. The construction of the broad-gauge rail connection between Guwahati and Silchar has effectively become a never-ending saga of mismanagement. The “targeted ” period of completion has been crossed many times, and now the next targeted completion period is March 2009. But the snail’s pace at which the work is progressing have led experts on the issue to comment that they are not even hopeful that the work would be completed by 2011–such is the state of affairs.

“Practically one fourth work of the project is yet to be finished”, said PK Dutta, a retired engineer of Silchar town, although railway sources claim that more then 40 percent of the work has been accomplished. Dutta outlined that there are definitely technical difficulties in undertaking construction in hilly areas. Some of the workers who have been engaged by the contractors expressed their grievances. According to them the area is so located that the construction work could be done for just about 5 to 6 months in a year as periods of incessant rains make it difficult to carry equipment to the work site. Also rains in such areas create other hazards.
However once the conversion is completed the distance between Guwahati–Silchar will be shorter by 18 kms, as from a distance of 216 kms the distance will be reduced to 198 kms.

“What is the difference anyway if the work continues in such a way”, said SK Chakraborty, a former member of the, Broad-gauge Demand Committee, Silchar. “I think only my son will see the completion”, Chakraborty added. “The main part of the work remains untouched till now”, said Fakaruddin Laskar who was employed in a transport company. He cited examples and said the work of the longest bridge near new Haflong station have just started. Piling work started for the bridge which will be 740 ft long. “Minimum period of one year or perhaps more would be needed to complete the work”, Laskar added.

The work remained closed for few months due to extremist problem. “A few members of the DHD(J) and NSCN is behind the extortion, kidnapping etc creating hurdles, said a Haflong based police officer. DHD main stream Chief Dilip Nunisa though denied such allegations, sources added. The newly elected NC Hills Autonomous Council Chief Deepolal Hojai met Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and urged early completion of the work.

The main hindrance to the project is the lack of political motivation. If the politicians desire early implementation of the work the same could be duly accomplished. Some people alleged that a transport lobby is creating the problem. Hundreds of buses ply daily between Guwahati and other areas of Barak Valley including Mizoram and Tripura. More then 200 trucks are also operating daily on NH 44. Once the broad-gauge track starts this will cease. Many private carrier cum travel company operate with the buses and trucks owned by many politicians and political leaders. And this lobby is being blamed for the negligence in the gauge conversion work.

Though the broad-gauge line from Guwahati to Lumding has been completed and is operational, that from Lumding to Silchar is still under meter gauge and is purportedly under construction. But in the whole situation of uncertainty it is mainly the common people of Cachar who are bearing the brunt of inefficiency. Goods including materials and essential commodities carried by the railways from Guwahati to Silchar have to be unloaded and subsequently reloaded at Lumding, a transhipment forced due to the different gauges. All of this entails tremendous delays and an artificial scarcity is created which leads to inflating costs with even essential commodities being stuck for days at Lumding.