SHILLONG: Land acquisition for the Byrnihat-Shillong railway line is yet to pick up pace despite the North Frontier Railways (NFR) depositing Rs 209.38 crore for a part of the project.
NFR gave the money to the State government on March 30 for acquiring around 182 hectares between Byrnihat and Lailad, a distance of about 17km.
The project has been taken up in phases. The work along the Tetelia-Byrnihat railway line is 44 per cent complete and will be over by March 2018, an official said.
The project has been hanging fire for the last two decades and NFR officials said survey for the track till Shillong is still pending.
The official said the local MLA has not vacated the land required for the project and the matter is now pending before the court.
The 21.5km rail line will cost around Rs 385 crore.
There are land hurdles in Assam where NFR is yet to get forest clearance for laying tracks on around 4km stretch. Besides land problem, the project is also facing opposition from local pressure groups who are blocking the project fearing influx.
