Joint team inspects BG railway line project at Mengujuma village

DIMAPUR — Deputy Commissioner of Kohima, B Henok Buchem, accompanied by a team of district officers, conducted an on-site inspection of the ongoing construction work of the Dimapur–Kohima New Broad Gauge (BG) Railway Line project at Mengujuma village, Kohima district, on Thursday.

The inspection team comprised officials from various departments, including Revenue Officer Kevingoto Kulnu, SDO Sechü-Zubza Imliakum Sanglir, Executive Engineer (R&B), DPRO Kohima, and representatives from Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR), a DIPR report stated.

The team visited key project sites, including tunnel construction locations and the proposed railway station at Mengujuma.

The NFR team gave a PowerPoint presentation outlining the progress and challenges of the project. The team explained that the railway line is being constructed in three phases, stretching from Dimapur to Kohima district, with a targeted completion by December 2029.

However, in line with a directive from the Prime Minister’s Office, efforts are being accelerated to meet the revised deadline of December 2028.

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A major focus of the presentation was Tunnel No. 10 under the Kohima Alignment, which is the second-longest tunnel in the project at 5.5 km, following Tunnel No. 7 in Chümoukedima district.

The geological challenges affecting Tunnel No. 10 were highlighted, noting that the region is highly active geologically.

As a result, extensive safety measures are being implemented, and multiple contingency plans have been prepared to address the continuous land movement in the area.

The presentation also covered the typical cross-sections of the main tunnel and escape tunnel. Photographs depicting various stages of tunnelling activities, such as forepolling and rock bolting, were shared to provide a comprehensive overview of the work process. It was emphasised that no casualties have occurred due to stringent safety protocols being followed at every step.

During the visit to the proposed railway station site, the line departments, including R&B and NST, were advised to closely coordinate with the construction company to ensure steady progress of the construction of approach roads to Mengujuma Railway Station.

Buchem assured full administrative support to the construction teams and urged the contractors to adhere to the revised deadline.

The DC also appreciated the meticulous efforts being taken to ensure both the safety of workers and the quality of construction.