Question : AUCTION OF SCRAP MATERIAL

(a) whether the approach way to the Railway bridge over Gangadhar river near Goalkganj was blown away by flood;

(b) if so, whether the Railway Department has disposed of scrap materials of the bridge by auction sale;

(c) if so, whether the Government is aware of the fact that the auction sale was declared as illegal and void by the Civil Court of Dhubri;

(d) whether the court directed to restore and develop the bridge with both Railway and road service; and

(e) if so, whether the Government would abide by the Court’s orders and re-construct the same bridge in course of the on- going construction of the new Moinaguri-Gogighupa railway line?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI R. VELU)

(a) Railway bridge over river Gangadhar was in existance on railway line connecting Golakganj and Bamanhat prior to Independence. After Independence, this link via East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) was abandoned. The Railway Bridge over the river Gangadhar was washed away by floods subsequently.

(b) No, Sir.

(c) Does not arise.

(d) & (e) On this subject matter copy of court’s judgment of Civil Court, Dhubri has been received by this Ministry recently enclosed with letter addressed by Hon’ble MP to Minister of Railways dated 02.12.2004. Old alignment of railway line over which bridge in question existed has been abandoned as explained in (a) above. However, a bridge over river Gangadhar is to be built on new line connecting New Maynaguri with Jogighopa station which is in progress. This bridge will be purely a Railway bridge. Regarding construction of Road Bridge the matter pertains to the State Govt.