Fears of influx over introduction of railway
SHILLONG: To allay fears of influx due to the introduction of railway services in Mendipathar, the Government is planning to adopt an interim measure.
As the work for the Dudhnoi-Mendipathar railway project has finally completed and now the railway line is only awaiting formal inauguration, the State Government is working on a mechanism to filter people who enter the State by trains.
Speaking to media persons here in the city on Tuesday, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said that a mechanism is being worked out to filter people who enter the State although it will only be an interim mechanism till the time a full proof mechanism is adopted in the State.
With the coming of railways, people of Garo Hills can transport their goods at much cheaper rates once the Dudhnoi-Mendipathar railway line is formally commissioned.
The Centre recently approved an additional amount of Rs.400 crore to complete three rail projects in the Northeastern region including Dudhnoi-Mendipathar project before March, 2014.
The sanctioned cost of the project was Rs.86.22 crore, but the revised cost could touch Rs.144 crore.
It may be mentioned that 65.09 hectares of land was handed over to NF Railways for the project in September 2011 for timely completion of the project.
The areas which will be covered by the railway line are Nolbari-Deuripara, Boromiapara, Chotomiapara , Mataranga, Manikganj, Horingkata, Bakenang-Tilapara and Mendipathar.
Once completed, the long-cherished dream of having a rail link connecting Meghalaya with the rest of the country is finally set to come true.
However, the plan to connect Khasi Hills with a dedicated rail service is being vehemently opposed by pressure groups fearing large scale influx of outsiders into the State.
