Guwahati, Feb 13 (PTI) Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today requested Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee to include several projects for the state in the forth coming rail budget for the year 2011-12.
Gogoi sent a letter to Banerjee for new lines for strengthening the railway infrastructure in the North Eastern region and Assam, including a new line from Salona to Kumtai and Jorhat to Sivasagar.
He also urged for a transport corridor along the south bank of the Brahmaputra, building of the six km Tirap-Lekhapani railway line for efficient and economical access to the Lekhapani coal mines to feed the upcoming 750 MW Bongaigaon Thermal Power Station (BTPS) of NTPC at Salakati in Kokrajhar district and double tracking of railway line stretch between New Bongaigaon and Kamakhya via Goalpara to decongest the present railway line.
The chief minister also demanded a new railway line from Silghat to Tezpur with a railway bridge for strategic reasons and gauge conversion of the only meter gauge stretch between Baraigram and Durlabcherra.
Gogoi requested Banerjee to declare these infrastructure as ''national projects'' for ensuring smooth fund flow.
