No plan to scrap rail project: Gohain

“We are not thinking about it (scrapping) now and definitely we are going ahead with the construction,” Gohain told reporters at the sideline of a function held in the city here on Monday.

The Khasi Students’ Union and other pressure groups are opposing the proposed railway project in Ri Bhoi District on ground that the state government is yet to put in place effective mechanisms to check influx.

Asked, the minister of state said, “The government of Meghalaya should take interest. This is a local problem (opposition) and it is their duty to tackle it.”

“If government and the public do not support and if they repeatedly obstruct the work then it will not possible for railway to come or reach Shillong,” he added.

Stating that the Centre is keen to bring railway up to Shillong, he said but for that we need the support from the government and the public adding if they want to welcome it they need to solve all these problems.

Informing there has been repeated discussion with the state government; Gohain also assured that his officials will definitely talk with the agitating NGOs.

At present, the construction work of the railway line in Ronghona village under Byrnihat police outpost has been stopped completely following the violent protest by activists of the KSU on May 27.

Subsequent to the attack, the state has also witnessed several incidents of arson and petrol bomb attack in the past three weeks and also arrest of several members of the anti-railway group.

The proposed 20.5 km Tetelia-Byrnihat railway line, which will connect Tetelia in Assam with Byrnihat in Meghalaya, was sanctioned by the Centre at a cost of Rs 496 crore. The length of the railway line within the state is just 2.5 km.

Sources however said that the cost for the construction would go up to Rs 1,400 crore from Rs 496 crore, and the cost for the Byrnihat-Shillong line has been pegged at around Rs 4,500 crore.

Ronghona is supposed to be an end point of the Tetelia-Byrnihat railway line, and a railway station was proposed to be built there.

Reacting to a query, Gohain hinted that the Centre may take a call on scrapping the project if at last the people do not want the railway to come to Shillong.

“But let see we are trying to convince the people that it (railway) will not harm but rather help the Meghalaya people as they will get a direct link from here to the entire country,” he said.

According to him, it will be more beneficial for the Meghalaya people once the rail line comes to Shillong.

Highlighting on the other benefits of the railway project, the minister of state said it will boost the tourism industry of Meghalaya and also generate employment opportunities.

“Tourism will be developing like anything here in Shillong. Now everyone knows about Shillong. People especially the middle class who cannot come via air will definitely get to see Meghalaya once it is connected with rail,” he added.

He also denied that railway line will destroy the scenic beauty of Shillong, which has tagged as the Queen of Hill Stations. “Look at Switzerland or go to Darjeeling, railway line in fact add to the scenic beauty,” he said.

According to him, railway are also changing fast in everywhere in the country as government is taking steps to ensure cleanliness is maintained.

Meanwhile, Gohain admitted that the trucker associations may be behind the opposition against the railway project in the state but he refused to comment further on the matter.