Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury on Thursday placed rail connectivity at the centre of Assembly discussions, confirming that the state government has approached the Centre with a proposal for a new railway line linking key towns across Tripura. The proposed route would run from Dharmanagar through Kailashahar, Kamalpur, Khowai, Mohanpur, Agartala, Sonamura, Belonia, and terminate at Sabroom, significantly enhancing intra-state connectivity.
Replying to questions from legislators Gopal Chandra Roy and Nirmal Biswas, Chowdhury said that both he and Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha are “deeply committed” to the project. He informed the House that he has met the Union Railway Minister twice to push for early action and that a preliminary survey is already underway. “The matter now rests with the central ministry. Once the survey is completed, a decision will follow. We are actively pursuing the issue to speed up the process,” he stated.
Addressing demands for the introduction of a Humsafar Express from Sabroom, the minister said the request has already been forwarded to the Railway Ministry. He pointed out that the idea of express trains operating from Sabroom once seemed unlikely, but has now become a reality with the Kanchenjunga Express running from the town. In addition, four DEMU services currently operate daily between Agartala and Sabroom.
Highlighting recent progress, Chowdhury said that 13 express trains now connect Agartala with various parts of the country, attributing this to the benefits of a “double-engine government.” He also took a swipe at previous administrations, alleging that they had failed to deliver comparable rail development.
The minister assured that efforts will continue to expand the rail network, aiming to bring modern connectivity to all regions of Tripura.
