Rail link potential remedy for highway bandh malaise
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: March 29, 2022 -

IT'S rather an upbeat coincidence that at a time when the indefinite bandh called by Southern Angami Public Organisation (SAPO) has started drawing both attention and flak from various quarters, the first goods train of the Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR) on Saturday reached Khongsang railway station in Noney district, the headquarters of which is one of the nearest to the state's capital among the hill districts.

It is indeed commendable that in-spite of some detractors alleging official apathy towards executing the national project, the NFR authorities have been carrying out the assigned task as is evident from the goods train creating a history of sort by arriving at Khongshang.

As reported in this daily, Khongsang locals warmly welcomed the train and the Railways officials by showcasing Rongmei cultural dance.

Such heart-warming gesture by the local could be construed as expression of general sentiment and perception of the people of Manipur that once goods and passenger services get fully operational, the perennial issue of rogue elements laying siege on the national highways at the drop of a hat wouldn't have much of an impact on the socio-economic condition of the state and its people.

It needs no repetition that different organisations and outfits see the national highways as the most convenient means of bringing the establishment on its knees in case any of their demands do not draw immediate attention.

For long, the highways are being used as the bargaining chip, often compelling the government to give assurances even if some of the demands or issues seem infeasible and sectarian in nature.

Though rail-line connectivity till Imphal will take some more years, the NFR officials deserve all the credits for the successful trial run of the goods train as it means that the stage is technically clear for full-throttle operation of the train service through the hostile terrain.

As on date, Guwahati, Agartala and Naharlagun near Itanagar are the only capitals in the north-eastern states to have railway network. However, close monitoring by NFR officials for accelerating extension of the rail line constructions till the capital cities of the remaining north-eastern states suggests that everything possible is being done to make the projects a reality at the soonest possible.

With the Union government already declaring all the railway projects in the northeast as national projects, it is certain that no efforts would be spared to complete and convert them into invaluable assets for the landlocked states and an economic asset for the nation, regardless of some civil society organisations fearing that arrival of trains would lead to massive influx of outsiders.

While sincere and effective enforcement of the inner line permit system would definitely help in checking the much feared demographic changes, it is suggested that the government of Manipur consult with the railway ministry to ferry in essential goods till the point nearest to the state capital at the soonest possible so as to neutralise the chronic problem of agitating groups dictating terms to the people of Manipur through blockade or bandh along the two national highways.

As the trial runs have been successful, the train connectivity till Khongsang railway station, which is a little over 100 km driving distance from Imphal, could be used as the goods pick-up point without further delay.

Moreover, SAPO and any other organisations might think twice before trying to disrupt transportation of goods and passengers once they realise that Manipur is no more solely dependent on the two national highways.

In case the Khongsang railway station could be made fully operational without any further delay then there would no objections from any quarters if the N Biren government counts the same as one of its achievements.