By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 10: Unable to make any headway in Khasi-Jaintia Hills in the face of stiff opposition to introduction of railways, the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has expressed disappointed with the Meghalaya government, calling it out for not taking active steps to connect Shillong to the country’s railway map.
A top official from NFR, on the condition of anonymity, claimed that corruption was the primary motive behind the opposition to as many as three railway projects in Khasi-Jaintia Hills since many politicians in Meghalaya operate trucks and they were against the railway projects to avoid any detrimental impact on their business.
“Now, coal from Meghalaya is being transported to Punjab in trucks but if railways come, all goods can be transported to and from Meghalaya at a cheaper cost and truck transportation business will be severely affected,” the official said, expressing dismay that despite funding, the Meghalaya government has not been able to even allow construction of two kilometres of railway line in Byrnihat.
Asked about the fate of the Tetelia-Byrnihat railway project (21.5 km, sanctioned in 2010 and partially complete on the Assam side), the official said that they send their reports to the central government on the project every month and it was up to the Centre to take a final call as far as abandoning the project in Byrnihat is concerned.
Admitting that the yearly funds for the project remain unutilised, the NFR official said Assam will not lose anything from the project as Tetelia is already well connected with railways.
The official admitted that apart from the Tetelia-Byrnihat and Byrnihat-Shillong (108 km, sanctioned in 2011) railway projects, opposition has now also started for the proposed broad gauge railway line extending from Chaparmukh Junction in Assam to Jowai in Meghalaya (approved in 2023).
The 180-kilometre Chaparmukh-Jowai project has been included by the NFR in key surveys targeting development of new railway lines in the Northeast.
Asked if NFR is keen to expand the railways in Garo Hills since several demands have been made for extension of the Mendipathar railway line to other parts of the western region, the official said that any demand for extension of railways in Garo Hills cannot be fulfilled easily as it involves detailed technical and economical survey by a third party before it can be sanctioned.
The official, however, admitted that people of North Garo Hills are witnessing an economic turnaround with the railway line in Mendipathar.
