Railway:A game changer

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, FEB 9: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma on Thursday said railway connectivity to the state can be a “game changer” even as he expressed confidence that the comprehensive measure is capable of dealing with the issue of influx.  “The railway connectivity to Shillong can be a game changer in our pursuit to promote the state as the most favored destination,” Sangma told journalists at the sideline of a meeting on Thursday.

He said that the railway lines need not be used only as passenger train to enable commuters who will be just coming in search of opportunities in the state but Meghalaya should be seen as a destination for tourists, who will come and go.

“Therefore we would like to take advantage of this railway connectivity to promote high-end tourism,” Sangma said while pointing out that it would also be utilized to take care of whole market linkages and extra burden on consumers due to lack of railway.

Referring to the railway line in Garo hills region, the chief minister said that he was happy to see farmers from North Garo hills region are able to have access to market like Guwahati.

“I am told that farmers and entrepreneurs are now utilizing the railway line which connect between Mendipathar to Guwahati carrying their consignment and farm products and sell it in Guwahati and come back,” he said.

He said this has generated a lot of opportunities for the farmers to get much more remunerative price for their farm products.

The chief minister also informed that the state government has also suggested that the whole connectivity should not only be with Guwahati but further link with other parts of the country, which proposal and discussion on this are on.

On the proposed railway projects in Byrnihat and Shillong, he said the whole issue of land acquisition has been worked out and whole alignment have been finalized in as far as Byrnihat (Ri Bhoi District) is concerned.

“With regards to Shillong, the whole alignment is worked out and whole survey is on. However the whole exercise for land acquisition has some glitches but will overcome,” he added.

There is strong opposition from several quarters including NGOs against the proposed railway projects in Byrnihat and Shillong as they alleged the state is yet to have effective laws to deal with influx.

Allaying this fear, the chief minister said that the comprehensive measures once put in place will be capable of dealing with the situation.

“Besides these measures, we already have many other existing laws which empowers and equipped our people with the right kind of wherewithal to deal with illegal immigration and influx,” he said.