AGARTALA, Jan 5 (TIWN): Adding another milestone in the history of Tripura the ballast train on Monday successfully reached at Dharmanagar Railway platform with 3 engines and a total of 53 coaches. The train left from Dharmanagar for Ambassa on Tuesday. After touching the soil of Ambassa Railway Station platform, the train will again move back to Badarpur throwing stone chips. The ballast train was made to run on the newly converted BG track to check the liability of the tracks. However, it is to be mentioned here that the train reached Dharmanagar on Monday from Badarpur without any hurdles and the journey was smooth. Amidst cheers and enthusiasm, the ballast train marked its maiden journey on the newly converted BG track of the state. Tripura on Monday witnessed the first trial run of a ballast train on the BG track as it rolled into the Badarpur-Agartala track.People in large numbers gathered at various spots to watch the arrival of the ballast train at Dharmanagar Railway platform with 3 engines and a total of 53 coaches. The run of the ballast train brought cheers to the people of Tripura as the state got a step closer to get rail connectivity in the state after much of doldrums. However the ballast train is scheduled to arrive at Ambassa from Dharmanagar on Tuesday. The sources also said that Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Neeraj Kumar would be arriving at Dharmanagar on January 6 to take a note of the newly built BG conversion work.

However, uncertainty still looms large as it will take time to bring ballast train upto Agartala railway station because the engine has not yet come to Agartala and it is scheduled to arrive on January 13.

As the ballast train has entered the state, there is possibility that the goods loaded train will reach the state before March 31st.

However, it is to be mentioned here that the engine trial run on the Badarpur-Agartala route was conducted successfully and it is expected that the ballast train will enter Agartala by the end of January.

It is to be mentioned here that On September 20, the state bid adieu to meter gauge rail engine to pave the way for undertaking BG conversion work.

The first BG engine rolling is completed up to Dharmanagar from Badarpur and it will continue up to Agartala January 13. However the rolling of the engine will be completed once it touches the soil of Agartala.

According to NFR sources, the journey appeared successful as far laying of BG track. After running the engine and the ballast train on the BG track, the NFR is scheduled to begin the passenger service by the March 31st.