RailEnquiry

RANCHI: General manager of South Eastern Railway (SER), Abhay Kumar Verma has promised that the Ranchi-Lohardaga-Tori railway line would be complete by 2014. The project has been delayed by a year. Once the rail tracks are laid completely it would facilitate faster route between Ranchi and New Delhi.

The newly-laid railway tracks between Ranchi and Tori would shorten the route to Delhi. Currently the trains need to undertake a circuitous journey to Delhi via Ramgarh and Barkakana.

The laying of the rail lines are almost complete despite the fact that it faced some hurdles. Only around 30-odd km work is pending, the general manager said on Thursday. The Maoists have time and again prevented the progress in the construction work on the 100km railway line from Ranchi. The project is of Rs 347crore and work for laying the railway line had begun in 2007. The tracks have been laid up to Badkichapi, 83km from here. Another 35km rail line would connect it to Tori.

Verma, who was on an informal visit to the Ranchi railway division, held review meetings with Ranchi DRM and other officials at the DRM's office at Hatia.

Verma paid a surprise visit to the linen room at Ranchi railway station and spoke with the officials. "The escalator at the Ranchi railway station would be complete by July last week or August first week," railway officials said quoting Verma. The work for the construction of an escalator is going on in full swing at the station.

Verma also said the frequency of Rajdhani express would be increased from three days in a week to four days. "We are holding talks with the railways board for the purpose," Verma said.

Verma is scheduled to retire on June 30. "Verma has reviewed the condition of railway stations and trains," said Ranchi DRM G Malaya.

Later, the Verma inaugurated the office of the senior RPF commandant at DRM's office.

A group of representatives of the railway trade unions put forth their demands to him. Their demands included a railway overbridge at Chutiya and establishment of central schools. Verma has assured them that their demands would be looked into soon.