DIMAPUR — The Dimapur Naga Students' Union
(DNSU) expressed deep concern and disappointment over a report published in a
local daily on January 13, which highlighted the alarming neglect of Dimapur
Railway Station by the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) and the state
government.
In a press statement, the student body said that the
station, established in 1903 and the second-highest revenue earner for the NFR
in the Northeast, continues to suffer from inaction and disregard, which is
unacceptable to the people of Nagaland.
Stating that despite handling approximately 7,000 to 8,000
passengers daily post-COVID-19, Dimapur Railway Station has been relegated to a
non-entity, it mentioned that out of over 40 long-distance trains passing
through, none originate at Dimapur, and trains like the Jan Shatabdi, BG
Express, and Nagaland Express have been shifted elsewhere under questionable
circumstances.
Quoting the report, it said that the proposed INR 283 crore
redevelopment and modernisation of Dimapur Railway Station into a world-class
facility is in jeopardy due to land encroachment and lack of coordination
between NFR and the state government.
“Nearly 30 hectares of NFR land are under unauthorised
occupation, a matter that has been ignored for decades. The absence of a double
railway track further adds to the inefficiency, forcing unnecessary delays and
mandatory stops for slower trains.
“Without immediate resolution of these issues, Dimapur
Railway Station risks being further sidelined, with resources potentially
redirected to other states, as has happened in the past,” it read.
DNSU appealed to the NFR and the state government to take
immediate and decisive steps to resolve the encroachment issue and make land
available for the redevelopment project.
It sought to reintroduce long-distance trains originating
from Dimapur to meet the demands of thousands of daily passengers and appealed
to ensure transparent timelines and accountability in implementing the INR 283
crore redevelopment plan.
Further, the union called upon all stakeholders to join
hands in demanding prompt action and a commitment to development.
