Rail Budget 2013: Pawan Kumar Bansal eyes Arunachal Pradesh connectivity to counter China progress on the other side

GUWAHATI: Union Railway minister, Pawan Kumar Bansal has set his eyes on Arunachal Pradesh, the frontier state bordering China. Railways are now trying to match the massive highway expansion plan which the government of India has taken for this Northeastern state.

The minister in his speech announced that railway link to Arunachal Pradesh will be provided this year as the work of Harmuti-Naharlagun railway track is progressing well. The track was scheduled to be completed by 2011-12.

The minister has also sought national project status for the proposed Rupai-Pasuramkund railway track. Pasuramkund is a Hindu pilgrimage site in Arunachal and attracts lakhs of devotees annually. Neighbouring China which claims Arunachal as part of its territory has intiated massive connectivity project on its side of border.

Chairman R.S.Joshi of Federation of Industries for Northeast Region (FINER) except Arunachal Pradesh nothing much for Northeast India. " No big announcements for the seven states of the region."