Train to chug into the state after 120 years

SHILLONG, FEB 28: Almost 120 years later, the railway line in Meghalaya will come alive with the first train chugging its way to Mendipathar station in North Garo hills on April 1 after more than a century.

Not many is aware that Meghalaya way back in 1895-96, when it as part of the British provincial government of united Assam, built the Cherra Companyganj state railways which was one of the first railway projects of that period.

North East Frontier Railway public relations officer (construction) DC Borah told reporters that with the integration of the Dudhnoi (Assam)-Mendipathar line with the national railway grid on Friday, Meghalaya found a place on India’s railway map.  He said, “ The first train will chug its way to Mendipathar on April 1.”

Borah said that the new line needs to be connected to Dudhnoi’s lines through an interlocking and signalling arrangement. To make this possible, the existing station interlocking system has to be temporarily suspended and new lines have to be connected with the existing system.

Borah informed that this will allow the trains to enter and leave Dudhnai station by using signals from the Mendipathar end and vice versa. Non-interlocked systems were started o February  25 and integration was completed Feb 27. He said, “The first step towards integration of Dudhnai-Mendipathar new line with India’s railway network is complete.”

The 19.47 km railway line would connect Dudhnoi in the Goalpara district of Assam and Mendhipathar in the North Garo Hills district of Meghalaya.

This railway project was approved in 1992-93, but, faced hurdles during its initial days due to opposition from the local population.

The Khasi Students Union (KSU) has been opposing the railway line into Meghalaya claiming it would add to the state’s influx problem. The railway projects like the Byrnihat-Shillong project which is slated to be completed by 2018 might not see the light of the day because of this perception of the students’ body.

But Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma feels railways connectivity to the state would change the socio-economic landscape of the state and would benefit everyone by providing employment to the youth and giving better markets to farmers.- By Our Reporter