Arunachal Pradesh today witnessed the first trial run of a rail engine as it rolled into the state capital from Harmutty in Assam's North Lakhimpur district.
Papum Pare Deputy Commissioner Pige Ligu joined the Northeast Frontier Railways Chief Engineer S C Rajak at Harmutty before the engine began its maiden journey upto Naharlagun railway station.
The railway line project, started in October 2008, was scheduled to be completed in November 2012, official sources said.
The delay was attributed to existence of five high tension power poles along the tracks and forest clearance at Gumto area obtained only on January 8 last.
As state's power department has informed to remove the high tension power line by March 15 next, the formal train service could begin from April next subject to clearance by the commissioner of railway safety, the project officer said.
Only passenger trains would run on the track, he said.
To a question, Ligu said that the state government would put a mechanism in place for checking the Inner Line Permit (ILP) of passengers.
The 20-km Harmutty-Itanagar railway line was announced by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on January 31, 2008.
