SHILLONG, Aug 5: Although the plan of the central government to rail-link Shillong is gheraoed by opposition, the Northeast Frontier Railway has nonetheless got its hands full conducting feasibility studies insofar as rail-linking the state capital is concerned.
The proposed Tetelia-Byrnihat-Shillong has been a non-starter but the NFR has completed multiple surveys on a stretch of 400 km in the state to explore the prefeasibility of bringing railways in future, if the state government wants it.
An official from NFR said that advanced internal survey has been already conducted by the railways in the state for the proposed railway line from Shillong to Dawki via Jaintia Hills and connecting it with Tura and Mendipathar, which already has a railway station.
Another pre-feasibility study has reportedly been done for a railway project from Shillong to Sohra but all these projects would become a reality only if the state government gives the go-ahead.
The NFR has conducted the prefeasibility survey in the state since this is a mammoth exercise which takes a significant amount of time.
With regard to expanding railways further in Garo Hills region, the official said that NFR has already apprised the state government time and again about extending the rail line till Tura as the terrain here is not complicated.
Also, since Garo Hills is already rail-linked, the NFR anticipates there will not be opposition to the project.
However, officials said that the state government has not shown any interest in extending railways till Tura town.
When asked about the Tetelia-Byrnihat-Shillong project, the official said that the state government has so far has not submitted any proposal for the closure of the project.
It may be mentioned that the NFR initiates railway projects in any state only after receiving a proposal from the government in that particular state.
Recently, Chief Minister had maintained that some exercise is on for introduction of railways in Khliehriat, East Jaintia Hills, but was quicl to add that such a notion will only be taken forward when all stakeholders are taken on board.
The NFR officials have however revealed said that they have not been intimated about any plans of the state government to introduce railways in Jaintia Hills. However, they opined that the idea is good since railways would provide a cheaper mode of exporting coal from the mineral-rich Jaintia Hills region.
