PC Member inspects rail station site
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN

Shillong, January 19 2014 : A member of the Planning Commission (PC), BK Chaturvedi yesterday visited the upcoming railway station at Mendhipathar in North Garo Hills, Meghalaya � the first of the state.

Chaturvedi and his team were on a short visit to inspect the progress of the line that is set to connect the whole of India to the state of Meghalaya and was happy with the progress of the line itself saying the same would be completed by the month of March, 2014 and opened in April for freight and regular traffic.

Chaturvedi was in Arunachal yesterday to review the upcoming railway line there too.

The 19.7 km line is set to connect the town of Dudhnoi in Goalpara district of Assam to the town of Mendhipathar, the first within the state and follows the premise of connecting all the states of India within the network of railways.

The inspection was done in the presence of the Principal Secretary (GAD), PW Ingty, the DC of NGH, W Khyllep along with the NFR team and the DA of Goalpara, Assam.

The PC member said that the progress of the line was satisfactory and the expectation that it would be opened in March should be met.

Chaturvedi said, "The line coming through fast and we expect the March deadline to be met.

We expect the coming of the rail network to ensure trade between the state of Meghalaya and the rest of the country.

The coal trade for example will get a bigger market with the coming of coal.

We expect a lot of benefits to the people of the region and congratulate the people of the region for being pro progress" .

On the plans of the railways to ensure the capitals off states to connected through rail, Chaturvedi said the plan was still in progress and would be dealt with soon.

However, the rail line to Byrnihat is still stuck in limbo on land acquisition issues, but he hoped progress of the said line would be made soon.

The PC member said the terrain provided challenges that were being met through the sheer genius of engineering including the set of the highest bridge in Arunachal Pradesh to ensure connectivity.

The coming of the rail network to the state is expected to provide a huge impetus to the economy of the region and bolster trade.

The Mendhipathar junction would cater to both the needs of the freight as well as passengers and will be operational from April, provided the work is completed by the month of March.

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