By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Jan 6: There is no progress in any of the proposed railway projects in Meghalaya, unlike other landlocked tourist destinations such as Sikkim which are close to being put on the country’s railway map
The Byrnihat project has been stalled for years while plans to connect Shillong with railways have gone nowhere.
The CPRO of Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) told The Shillong Times on Monday that there is no progress in the Meghalaya portion of the Tetelia-Byrnihat railway project as the Meghalaya government has not given permission yet.
Around 2.5 km of the Tetelia-Byrnihat railway track falls in Meghalaya.
Asked if the NFR would hold talks with pressure groups opposing the project due to fears of influx, the CPRO said the matter remains unresolved despite several meetings with state as well as central government authorities.
The pressure groups in Meghalaya fear that the railways would bring large-scale influx and they want the Inner-Line Permit system to be introduced in the state first.
However, Mendipathar is already connected with railways and it is unknown if it has led to an influx in the Garo Hills.
Making it clear that there is no plan to abort any of the railway projects in Meghalaya, the CPRO asserted that the progress of these projects will depend on permission from the state government.
Asked if the NFR would run trains only till the Assam portion of the Tetelia-Byrnihat project, he said a decision in this regard would be taken in the near future.
