01-01-19 Koliabor- Rajen Gohain flag off new train (1)
Union Minister of State of Railways Rajen Gohain along with Assam Minister of Water Resources Keshab Mahanta flagging off of a new train from Silghat Assam to Kolkata at Silghat in Koliabor on January 1, 2019. Photo by UB Photos

The survey for construction of a new bridge over the Brahmaputra River near Silghat on the southern bank in Nagaon district of Assam is almost complete.

Once the survey is completed, the proposal for construction of the bridge will be considered for incorporating in the Budget.

This was stated by Union Minister of State for Railways, Rajen Gohain on Tuesday at Silghat.

01-01-19 Koliabor- Rajen Gohain flag off new train (3)
The new train beginning its maiden journey from Silghat to Kolkata. Photo: UB Photos

Minister Gohain was speaking during the ceremonial flagging off of a new train from Silghat to Kolkata.

The route of the new train is:  Silghat-Nagaon- Senchoa- Chapormukh- Guwahati -New Bongaigaon- New Jalpaiguri – Malda Town-Kolkata

While speaking on the occasion, Gohain was of the opinion that the new weekly Silghat-Kolkata Express train would improve trade and commerce in central Assam, besides benefitting tourists to Kaziranga as the train will have stoppages at Amoni and Jakhalabandha.

Meanwhile, the Silghat station has been upgraded in a massive way making it a new terminal for the Railways.

The minister also said that a Delhi-bound train and a south-bound train will also be considered for introduction from Silghat soon.

It may be mentioned that in an effort to increase safety of passengers, Indian Railways has chalked out a plan to induct  4410 Linke hoffman Busch (LHB) coaches with anti-collision technology — which cause less fatalities — instead of the current Integral Coach Factory (ICF) coaches in.

The LHB design coaches are lighter in weight, have higher carrying capacity, speed potential and better safety features as compared to ICF coaches.