AGARTALA, May 1 (TIWN): NFR has decided to run one pair of BG Trail Passenger Special Train between Agartala-Silchar for temporary basis in the newly converted BG section from May 2nd. Railway Ministry under Narendra Modi led BJP Govt working relentlessly to improve infrastructures in Northeast India which has been neglected since India’s independence. Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Friday said he will meet US transport officials next month to finalise areas of cooperation between the two countries in the railway sector. "I had fruitful discussions with the US Secretary of Transport during my last visit to the US and they were keen on engaging with India in the railway modernisation. I hope the next month's meeting in the US will help in taking the partnership forward," Prabhu said. The minister also said the capital expenditure in Indian Railways has touched an all-time high of Rs.1.39 lakh crore.

Speaking at the second Indo-US Infrastructure Summit, he said the Indian Railways have already signed contracts worth Rs.40,000 crore with major global corporations.

"American company General Electric and the French industry major Alstom have signed contracts with the Railways. I hope that more companies would be willing to invest in Indian Railways," he added. BG service requires Tripura Govt's co-operation with uninterrupted power supply and field amenities.

"For the first time, the action taken report by the Railways was filed in Parliament and we will continue to do so. Work has already started on the proposals that I made in the budget speech", he said. 

He also spoke about decentralisation of authority in his ministry, claiming that he did not take any commercial decision as a minister. 

"All the responsibilities are delegated. We have empowered general managers and others to take expeditious decisions. I only get involved in policy making and decision at macro level", Prabhu said.

The minister said the Railways would become more passenger friendly in the coming years.

"Railways receive the largest number of complaints daily; it will monitor complaints on real time basis in the times to come," he said.

Proposed trains to run from May 2 as per NFR press release:

1) 05664 Up Silchar-Agartala Trial Passenger Special

2) 05663 Dn Agartala-Silchar Trial Passenger Special

Tripura’s continuous loadsheddings / power-cuts affecting directly the progress of Railways field work of  making stations, tracks fully ready for upcoming BG Train service.