GUWAHATI / MENDIPATHAR, NOV 29: Prime Minister Narendra Modi flag off the new route from Mendipathar in North Garo Hills to Guwahati from Maligoan Saturday evening in the presence of union railway minister Suresh Prabhu, Meghalaya and Assam chief ministers Mukul Sangma and Tarun Gogoi and Mizoram chief minister Lal Thanhawla
Other dignitaries who were present during the flagging off were Assam governor JB Patnaik, Meghalaya and Mizoram governor Krishna Kant Paul, , union minister of state for sports Sarbananda Sonowal and union minister of state home Kiren Rijiju.
Once Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the trained moved from Maligoan towards Mendipathar.
In Mendipathar former Lok Sabha speaker and Tura MP Purno Sangma and other dignitaries flagged off the train from Mendipathar.
The sleepy town of Mendipathar in Meghalaya’s North Garo hills on Saturday celebrated the flagging-off of the train service by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he connected the region via video conference.
The atmosphere in Mendipathar was festive as the station was packed with people from Mendipathar, Resubelpara and other adjoining villages. Mendipathar is about 90 km from Tura in West Garo Hills, 220 km from state capital Shillong, and 110 km from Guwahati.
Over 3000 people gathered at Mendipathar railway station to witness the historic event, which was graced by former Lok Sabha speaker Purno Agitok Sangma and former Meghalaya chief minister and state planning department chairman Salseng C Marak, Meghalaya transport minister HDR Lyngdoh, chief opposition whip James K. Sangma, Meghalaya chief secretary, Barkos Warjri, divisional railway manager, NF Railways, Rangiya Ratan Lal, among other dignitaries.
Flagging off the service from Mendipathar, the former Lok Sabha speaker and Tura MP Purno Sangma told media, “When Modi showed the green flag, I felt like Garo hills is moving forward for a better future”.
Recollecting his Lok Sabha debut, the veteran politician from Northeast said, “In 1977, when I was first elected to the parliament, my first demand was rail connectivity to Garo hills. It is like a dream come true for me. I personally decided to be at Mendipathar to witness this red letter day”. He took the opportunity to thank the people of Mendipathar, who supported the move for better connectivity in the region.
“The new route will boost the socio-economic transformation of Garo hills, where majority of the population are farmer. It will enhance trade, business and cultural ties of the region”, he added.
When asked about expansion of rail route, Sangma said, “I will pursue with centre on the new proposal, where expansion of train service will reach from Goalpara via Tikrikilla, Phulbari, Rajabala upto Damalgre, near Tura”.
Purno Sangma and Salseng C. Marak were seen celebrating as both were instrumental in pursuing the rail connectivity to Garo hills. “We have been together, and here we are”, Salseng said to Purno, as they hugged each other.
Speaking to the media, a school teacher Sengman G. Momin said, “We are excited to see the train move from Mendipathar. We feel that we have contributed to this by handing over the land for construction of the station”.
Among the crowd was a young doctor who came from South Garo Hills, Jacob Marak, who said, “I am here to celebrate Garo hills getting connected to rest of India. It is a proud moment for me to witness this. I have come from Baghmara“.- From Our Correspondent
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