By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The ongoing Dudhnoi-Mendipathar railway project, which has missed the original deadline of March this year, is likely to be completed by March next year.
An official from the Indian Railways on Sunday said that the department will complete the project by March, 2014.
The Centre recently approved an additional amount of Rs.400 crore to complete three rail projects in Northeastern region including Dudhnoi-Mendipathar project before March 2014.
The Railway ministry has committed that the first trial runs will begin on these lines in January, 2014.
When asked what is leading to this delay, the Railway official said Meghalaya Government till date has not been able to hand over 250 metres of land of projected 65.09 hectares for the project
Contradicting this, former East Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi claimed that he had handed over 65.09 hectares of land, which was required for the project, to the NF Railway authorities.
North Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner W Khyllep said the State Government wants the railway authorities to complete the project by September.
According to him, the construction of railway station in Meghalaya side had been going on at the moment.
The sanctioned cost of the project was Rs 86.22 crore, but the revised cost could touch Rs 144 crore.
The areas which will be covered by the railway line are Nolbari-Deuripara, Boromiapara, Chotomiapara , Mataranga, Manikganj, Horingkata, Bakenang-Tilapara and Mendipathar.
Recently, one manager of a private firm working in the project — Ganeshyam Das — was abducted by suspected Rabha tribal rebels and later he was released in Assam.
Reacting to a query, Khyllep said the RPF with its full strength is providing security to officials working in the project.
“If required the state government is ready to provide additional security,” he said.