Tetelia-Byrnihat railway line
SHILLONG: Unavailability of land for the construction of Tetelia-Byrnihat railway line has put the entire project in jeopardy.
Stating that even though the work for the project has been going on for the last few months, sources said the task is being hindered by the unavailability of land.
It may be mentioned that only 2.5 KM out of the 21.5 KM Tetelia-Byrnihat rail line would fall under Meghalaya.
“Of the 2.5 KM of railway line proposed to be constructed in Meghalaya, land is available for the construction of only a stretch of 1.6 km. The North Frontier Railway (NFR) requires the rest of the land immediately to complete the project within the stipulated deadline of 2017,” sources said.
It has been learnt that the NFR is presently working on six bridges even as earth cutting is being carried out for the project.
The district administration of Ri Bhoi had handed over 29.03 hectares of land last year to the NFR for the railway project.
Several pressure groups have opposed the railway project in the State fearing that extending rail services would invite large-scale influx of illegal immigrants. Recently heavy cost machineries which were being used for the project by NFR were also burnt down by miscreants.
The NFR had taken up the matter with the State Government and were assured that security will be provided to those working in the Rs 430.33 cr project.
Meanwhile, the Byrnihat-Shillong railway line project has remained a non-starter though survey for the project has been completed.
“Often our workers are chased away and our pillars are damaged,” sources said adding that the matter has been taken up with the Government.