Rajen Gohain for exclusive railway recruitment policy in Northeast

GUWAHATI:

Union minister of state for railway

Rajen Gohain said that he is going to pursue with the Centre for an exclusive railway recruitment policy in Northeast.

"The issue of separate railway recruitment policy for Northeast is very much in my mind. Now that the union budget is over, I will take up the issue with the Centre soon," Gohain said here.

Several organisations including the

All Assam Student Union

(AASU) and Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) have been demanding a separate policy for recruiting local youth from the region in third and fourth grades of the railways. These organisations have also been alleging that often local youth were deprived in the recruitment for the third and fourth grade posts. And there were several protests, including the violent ones in the past too.

"Since the coming of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to power and our railway minister Suresh Prabhu have been giving top priority to Northeast's development. Works on various railway projects in the region have gained momentum under the leadership of our government. That is why the plan outlay for the North East Frontier Railway (NFR) has seen an increase of 24% in this union budget," Gohain said.

The minister said that the union budget 2017-18 also reflected Centre's commitment to develop rail connectivity and infrastructure in Northeast.

Gohain who had earlier promised of setting up a midlife coach rehabilitation factory in the state with an estimated investment of Rs 500 Crore, said that this plan has been shelved. Instead, a Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coach workshop will be opened in New Bongaigaon with an investment of Rs 90 Crore.

The union budget has sanctioned the new workshop for refurbishing LHB coaches at New Bongaigaon.

"We are not going for midlife coach rehabilitation factory. Instead LHB coach refurbishing workshop will come up in the state. This is being done keeping passengers' safety in mind. LHB coaches are safer for passengers," Gohain said.