Movement of Foodgrains to Southern Assam, Manipur, Mizoram

and Tripura during Gauge conversion Mega Block of LumdingBadarpur Meter Gauge line by Railways.

1.

Introduction:

1.1 North Eastern (NE) State of the country is deficit in foodgrains

and have limited storage capacity. Foodgrains are inducted in the
region for Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) and Other
Welfare Scheme (OWS) using Broad Gauge network of Railways. Even
most of the inter-state distribution is done through Broad Gauge and
Meter Gauge network of Railways
and part of the inter-state
movement is done through Road as well.
1.2 Railways are planning to take up Lumding Badarpur Meter
Gauge Section for Gauge conversion since 1st October, 2014. Meter
Gauge Sections starting from Lumding currently feed Southern Assam,
Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura and it will necessitate road induction in
the region.
2.

Background:

2.1 The issue of induction of foodgrains in the region was discussed

in the Group of Officers meeting held on 12.05.2014 and COS meeting
held on 25.06.2014. The recommendation made by Group of officers
and COS along-with present status, are at Annexure-I & II.

3. Steps taken for improvement in rail induction

3.1 Department is taking steps in collaboration with Railways

to

operationalise goodsheds on Rangiya Murkongselek railway line so

the resources deployed in the region for road induction are freed and

can be redeployed for induction in the region going to be affected

due to closure of Lunding Badarpur meter gauge line. Dekergaon,
Tangle and Naharlagun goodsheds on the Rangiya Murkongselek
railway line have been opened by Railways and North Lakhimpur and
Dhemaji terminal are yet to be opened and will be used by FCI after
opening.
3.2 As per agreed action plan FCI has finalized Road Transport
Contractors from

existing BG Railway terminal of Changsari and

newly identified BG Railway terminals at Baihata and Jagi Road to

the Mega Block affected States. The newly identified goodsheds will
help FCI in quickly unloading foodgrians at multiple locations for
further induction by road to the affected States.
4. Steps taken for improvement in Road induction:
4.1 FCI is using NH-39 connecting Dimapur (Nagaland) to Sangaiprou
(Imphal) for induction of foodgrains to Tripura. The road transport
contract for movement on NH-39 expired on 3 rd July, 2014 and
further contract could not be awarded by FCI due to local issues. FCI
requested Chief Secretary, Govt of Manipur as well as Nagaland to
undertake confidence building measures amongst the perspective
contractors of their State and refloated the tenders and
two offers , which are under

received

technical evaluation. To explore the

possibility of alternate dispatching centre (although the route would

be same i.e. NH-39), FCI

has also

planned for dispatch from

Farkating Railway siding in Assam to Depots of Manipur.

4.2 Hojai to Silchar road movement: In order to reduce pressure
on NH-40/44, FCI made an attempt to move stocks by road from
Hojai-Haflong-Silchar route. However, restriction was imposed by
State Government on plying of heavy vehicles at Mulkoi on the
Haflong-Silchar route due to sinking of land which got aggravated
because of tunnel construction by Railways in the area. As an
alternate, FCI is now trying to move stocks on Hojai Umrangso
(hills) Raliang Shangpong Ladrymbai (NH-44) Silchar route to
meet the requirement of South Assam. Although some quantity has

been moved through this route, maximum burden of road movement

will have to be borne by NH-40/44 till the completion of NH-54
(Lumding-Silchar).
5. Riverine Movement to Tripura
5.1 A multimodal riverine movement contract of 10,000 MT rice has
been awarded by FCI for movement from Andhra Pradesh to Tripura
via Ashuganj( Bangladesh). Under this contract, a vessel carrying
5000 MT ricehas already sailed from Andhra Pradesh (Vizag) and is
expected to reach Agartala via Akhaura check post in the first week
August,2014.
6. Steps taken to identify storage capacity by States:
6.1 FCI NE zone is having a total storage capacity of about 4.7 lakh
tones and stocks for only 38 days can be stored in the region. In
view of this, it is required that the respective state governments
create maximum storage space and undertake advance lifting of
foodgrains to the extent. possible in view of forth coming railway
megablock. Attempts are also being made to identify additional
storage capacity in the region and encourage states to utilize this
capacity as intermediate storage and create the required buffer
stocks. For this purpose, a meeting of Resident Commissioners of
the concerned states was called on 24.02.2014 and States were
requested to take necessary action in this matter.

7. Decisions sought:

7.1 The present level of foodgrain induction through BG rakes and

transshipment levels at Lunding has to be maintained by Railways so
that suitable buffer stocks are created before closure of meter gauge
line.
7.2 NHAI may be directed to expedite completion of the ongoing
work of NH 54 (Guwahati- Lumding- Silchar).

7.3 Government of Assam may expedite in handing over of 15 Km of

hindrance free land out of balance 31.89 Km from Maibong to
Harangjao located on NH-54 to NHAI to facilitate early completion of
ongoing work. Further, Governemnt of Assam may also expedite wild
life clearance for the 31 Km Harangajao-Balachera section so that
work could also commence on this stretch.
7.4 NHAI and concerned state governments may ensure
uninterrupted road movement of foodgrain trucks on NH-40 and 44
by undertaking required/routine road repairs.
7.5 Concerned State Governments may be asked to maintain law
and order and provide adequate en-route security for foodgrain
movement by road during Mega Block.
7.6 State governments may identify maximum storage space and
undertake advance lifting of foodgrains to the extent possible to
create suitable buffer stocks with them.
7.7 As decided in the last COS meeting dated 25.6.2014, all the
State Governments of North East may ensure submission of
information on Storage capacity and foodgrain stocks available with
state government on daily basis to Department of CAF&PD and FCI
so that FCI can ensure regular replenishment of stocks to all the
godowns optimizing the capacity utilization. At present only Tripura
and Mizoram are furnishing this information.
7.8 BRO may be asked to undertake urgent/routine road repair
works on NH 53 in Manipur and NH-54 in Mizoram and maintain it
properly during the Mega Block period and to take steps to replace
the existing temporary suspension bridges across Makru, Barak and
Irang rivers with well designed RCC/Steel bridges.
7.9 State governments particularly Assam and Meghalaya may be
requested not to impose any traffic restriction on plying of FCI
foodgrain trucks.
7.10
Ministry of External Affairs may arrange for permission
from Bangladesh Government forregular multimodal (riverine)
movement of 35000 MT of foodgrainper month to Tripura via
Bangladesh.