Shillong, March 16: Assam’s opposition to the proposed old railway line from Azara to Byrnihat has compelled the Meghalaya cabinet to decide on a new alignment to extend the track to the hill state.

Chief minister D.D. Lapang told reporters today that the Assam government had made a new proposal to have the extension of railway line from Tetelia in Assam’s Kamrup district to Byrnihat in Ri Bhoi district of Meghalaya.

Assam’s proposal came in the wake of opposition from the landowners on the ground that they would lose their paddy fields once the rail line is constructed. Besides, the Azara residents had expressed concern over the possibility of houses being dismantled.