NFR in the dark over Govt stand on rail

SHILLONG: The Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR) has not received any communication from Meghalaya Government about its decision to shelve the railway project till a comprehensive mechanism to check influx is put in place.
When asked, an official from the NFR said on Wednesday that it is news for them that Meghalaya Government has put the project on hold.
Replying to a query, the official said that with such decision, the agency which was assigned the construction work will definitely pull out of the project and even the Railway Ministry will take back the fund which was sanctioned for the projects.
According to NFR officials, the Railway Ministry had sanctioned Rs 150 crore this year for the Tetelia-Byrnihat railway project, while Rs 200 crore was sanctioned for Byrnihat- Shillong project. The NFR officials also added that though the target to complete the project is March 2019, now the project is certain to be delayed.
Earlier, after days of standoff, the State Government had bowed to the anti-railway groups’ demands and decided to shelve the railway project till adequate measures are taken to check influx.