Rlys to extend tracks in Malda, allot funds

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 6 OCT: Railway authorities have allotted a sum of Rs 1.72 crore to the state government for acquiring 115 acre of land in Malda’s Gazole area, in order to extend railway tracks there.

Authorities have finally proposed to construct a 12 kilometers long railway track in Gazole in order to implement the Gazole to Gunjaria railway project.

The proposal have already been placed infront of the Malda district magistrate and fund for acquiring the proposed 115.905 acres has also been granted.

After the lands are acquired the allotted amount is to get distributed among the residents who will be evicted for the proposed construction.

Miss Mamata Banerjee's department has already given a total fund of Rs 1,72,64,500 to the land acquisition department of Malda for its required land (115. 905 acres) in the district, an official of the land acquisition department said.

Miss Banerjee announced the railway project in Siliguri on Sunday.

Land acquisition officials have been calculating the rate of land per acre in comparison with Singur apprehending any protest from locals as Gazole is a tribal dominated area.

The special land acquisition officer in Malda, Mr Tridip Sharangi, said: “We have checked the proposals sent by the railway department for acquiring the 115.905 acres. Now we need to get a record of rights for those lands. We have asked the block land and land reforms officer to provide land records for verification”.

Besides, records that show the ownership rights of the concerned lands are also required, added Mr Sharangi.

“After completing the primary official work we need to conduct a joint survey with the railway engineers to get a proper alignment of the proposed railway tracks to be constructed in Gazole block areas”, he said.

After completion of joint inspection the process of land acquisition will be started through notifications.

It may be noted that Gazole to Gunjaria railway project was conceived during the tenure of late ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury, the former railway minister.

Last year the NF railway authorities floated tender for laying railway tracks without sending land acquisition proposals to the state government and had to cancel the tender later. (END)