SHILLONG: The State’s first rail project – the Dudhnoi-Mendipathar rail line – is likely be commissioned in March, 2014, a delay of almost six months.
An official related to the project informed The Shillong Times on Sunday that recently an engine was rolled on a 10-km stretch of the rail line that runs a total length of 19.62 kilometers.
The official also informed that almost ninety per cent of the work has been completed so far, while adding that construction of the railway station at Mendipathar is in its final stages.
Reacting to a query on the reasons behind the delay, the official said that the State Government handed over 220 metres of land required for the project only in September last, leading to the delay.
He also stated that the stretch had a 41 metre high hillock which added to the difficulties.
It may be mentioned that the State Government had handed over 65.09 hectares of land to the Northeast Frontier Railway for the project.
The sanctioned cost of the project was Rs 86.22 crore, but revised estimates have put the revised cost at around Rs 144 crore.
The areas to be covered by the rail line include Nolbari-Deuripara, Boromiapara, Chotomiapara, Mataranga, Manikganj, Horingkata, Bakenang-Tilapara and Mendipathar.
