SHILLONG: Reiterating its stand against the proposed railway project in the state, the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has denied issuing a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to the state Transport department for construction of a railway line in Ri Bhoi.
Speaking to reporters here on Thursday, Chief Executive Member (CEM) Titosstarwell Chyne informed that the KHADC Executive Committee has received a letter from the Transport department on July 9, submitted through the Ri Bhoi Deputy Commissioner, seeking NOC for acquisition of land for new BG (broad-gauge) railway line from Byrnihat to Lailad in Ri Bhoi.
“We have unanimously decided that we will not issue any NOC as we see that several organisations and the public are opposing railways in the state. We are taking the same stand that we do not want the railway line”, he said.
It may be mentioned that the railways project has been a contentious issue due to stiff opposition from the pressure groups.
The North-East Frontier Railways (NFR) has halted work on the 21-km Tetelia-Byrnihat railway line while the railway project in Garo Hills is confined to Mendipathar.