AGARTALA, Oct 3 (TIWN): Tripura witnessed recent era of new Train inaugurations but these Railway projects started decades back during UPA Prime Minister Manmohan Singh when Modi or BJP was not in power. No Railway engineering feat technically can be achieved in this Modi era’s 5 yrs 2014 to 2019. When ‘Modi’, ‘Modi’ chanting is on air for connecting South Tripura District with Broad-Gauge connectivity, CPI-M party which ruled in Tripura for long 25 years revealed after the inauguration of DEMU trains that the railway connectivity was never was stitched by Modi Govt as already in 2008 the first railway engine chugged on Agartala’s tracks. Also Agartala-Sabroom rail project started during Manmohon Singh's Govt. It was under UPA Govt, after CPI-M's the then General Secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet raised demand of Agartala-Sabroom Railway connectivity, the project started in 2008 and land-acquisition started from that time, although the first train arrived in Tripura under Morarji Ranchhodji Desai Govt at centre.In 2006 over 125 kilometre was marched by CPI-M’s youth wing DYFI demanding connectivity between Agartala and Sabroom, says new reports of that time. The then Prime Minister Manmohon Singh gave green signal for the project and land acquisition work was already held in CPI-M Govt’s time.

Briefing media, Tripura former Transport Minister Manik Dey today said, “The Agartala-Sabroom rail service has started today and its works started long back and it is result of massive protests and continuous demands from the centre. In Agartala metre gauge came in 2008. Then it was decided to convert into broad gauge which took a long time but completed. First under Morarji Ranchhodji Desai Govt’s time the first connectivity was Dharmanagar to Kumarghat, then under another Govt it expanded till Manu, then from Manu to Agartala. In the same way, Agartala to Garji, Garji to Belonia and Belonia to Sabroom. At first the project of Agartala-Sabroom Railway connectivity was issued by Dr Manmohon Singh’s Govt. CPI-M the then General Secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet demanded on that time that Agartala-Sabroom connectivity must be given under Railway and it was accepted under that UPA Govt”.

“Another question was there that the funding was very slow and thus to announce it as a national project and ultimately it was done, which eased the funding. Today the train service has reached till Sabroom and we are happy. People’s contribution in protests and development today can not be denied. People helped massively in land-acquisition, which was stated by Railway Dept”, said Dey.

Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Deb today flagged off a maiden train at Badharghat Railway station. The flag off programme was dedicated after a successful trail run held on Sep 6.