Garo Hills to get rail connectivity with Bengal through Bangladesh

SHILLONG, May 3: While the Khasi Hills region continues its opposition to the railway project over the Inner Line Permit demand, Garo Hills is set to be blessed with a second railway connection in addition to the Mendipathar- Dudhnoi railway line.
The Joint Movement Committee for Corridor (JMCC) from Balurghat-Hili (West Bengal) to Mahendraganj-Tura (Meghalaya) through Gaibandha in Bangladesh, on Tuesday informed that a historic railway track will be constructed to connect the two states through the neighbouring country at a cost of Rs 7,000 crore.
They said it will be a milestone project for South Dinajpur (West Bengal) and Garo Hills in Meghalaya.
The JMCC is headed by Dr Naba Kumar Das. Mahendraganj MLA Dikkanchi D Shira and Salmanpara MLA Winnerson D Sangma informed that the proposed railway line from Hili Land Port to Mahendraganj has been cleared by the central government and the Railway Board, New Delhi at an estimated cost of Rs 7,000 crore.
The total distance covered will be 150 km.
The Committee also said that construction of Balurghat-Hili rail track was under way and will be extended perpendicularly across Bangladesh to connect Garo Hills.
The JMCC had recently submitted a memorandum to the Union Minister of Railways demanding fulfilment of the long-standing demand for construction of the railway track and also pleaded for extension of the railway line up to Meghalaya.
It may be noted that in 2017, the Ministry of Externall Affairs had undertaken a study to examine the feasibility of connecting Hili Land Port in West Bengal to Mahendraganj in Meghalaya through Goraghat, Palashbari and Gaibandha in Bangladesh.