Shillong, Sept. 20: The first train may chug into Mendipathar railway station in Meghalaya’s East Garo Hills district by March 2013 as construction of the 19.47km broad gauge railway line from Dudhnoi to Mendipathar is under way.
State government officials recently handed over about 488 bighas or 65.09 hectares of land to the NF Railway for the 19.47km broad gauge railway line. Officials of NF Railway, Maligaon, said the first train could chug into Mendipathar railway station by the end of March 2013.
“With this, a dream pursued since 1994 when the first efforts were made to have a railway line from Dudhnoi to Depa Sarangma is en route to a happy conclusion though the current ultimate destination is Mendipathar. The railway line will translate into connectivity for commuters and goods to far-flung corners of the country and firmly establish Meghalaya and Mendipathar on the railway map,” East Garo Hills deputy commissioner Pravin Bakshi said in a statement.
The original sanctioned cost of the railway project was Rs 86.22 crore but the revised cost could be approximately Rs 144 crore, he added.
The journey has been an eventful one, as the original proposal for the railway line from Dudhnoi to Depa Sarangma had to be abandoned because of stiff opposition from the local people.
However, Bakshi said the Mendipathar railway project was being wholeheartedly welcomed by the people who were enamoured by the concept of their very own railway station and broad gauge railway line.
In view of the urgency of the project, acquisition was made under Section 17 of the Land Acquisition Act and 80 per cent of this cost has been paid by the NF Railway. Possession of land has been taken from 181 landholders. Accordingly, of the estimated cost of Rs 15,97,52,560 for land acquisition, Rs 12,78,02,049 has been paid. The balance will be paid soon.
Bakshi said the railway track would cover areas such as Nalbari-Deuripara, Boromiapara, Chotomiapara, Mataranga, Manikganj, Horingkata, Bakenang-Tilapara and Mendipathar.
“With the handing over of land to the railway authorities, work is on in full swing in Assam and Meghalaya from Dudhnoi to Mendipathar. About 48 to 52 per cent progress has been made on earth-cutting and the construction of bridges, excluding alignment of track, is under way,” the deputy commissioner said. Altogether 39 bridges are dotted along the track, of which nine, both minor and major, have been completed, he added.
Bakshi said the local people have welcomed the development and see it as the beginning of endless possibilities and materialisation of their dreams.
The railway project is being closely monitored by the Centre, especially by cabinet secretary Ajit Kumar Seth, and the secretary of North Eastern Council, U.K. Sangma, who heads a high-powered committee on the introduction of railways in the northeastern states.
To boost tourism, the state government also plans to include hot springs and monoliths of Resubelpara in the tourist circuit of Garo hills and set up a luxury resort near the hot springs.
Besides, a central supply depot of the Food Corporation of India has proposed the laying of a railway siding to transport foodgrains to the state to avoid the long surface route via Guwahati and Bongaigaon. The railway is also set to expand into West Garo Hills and South Garo Hills, connecting the plains belt.
