SHILLONG, Feb 17: Despite facing stiff resistance from pressure groups in Meghalaya against the Tetelia-Byrnihat and the Byrnihat-Shillong railway projects, the Northeastern Frontier Railway is now looking to connect Jowai in West Jaintia Hills with a railway line from Chaparmukh in Nagaon district of Assam.
As per reports, a 180-kilometre broad gauge railway line extending from Chaparmukh Junction in Assam to Jowai in Meghalaya has been included by the NFR in key surveys targeting development of new railway lines in the Northeast.
The proposed railway route is set to traverse several key locations such as Bhoksong, Rajagaon, Baithalangso, Jengkha, Kherani, and Umrangso before terminating in Jowai, reports say, adding that this corridor aims to address critical gaps in the existing transportation infrastructure while fostering interstate connectivity between Assam and Meghalaya.
The NFR is however mum on the matter as efforts to get their reaction on the proposed survey for the new project failed.
The pressure groups in Meghalaya have been opposing any form of railways as they fear that it would bring large scale influx into the state.
The pressure groups here want mechanisms such as ILP to protect the indigenous people before initiating any project on railways.
The state government was supposed to hold negotiations with the stakeholders but no such parleys have been witnessed in recent times.
