Nagaland Railway contractors oppose NFR’s move to shift HQ

Dimapur, September 12 : The recent move of the Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR) to shift the administrative Headquarters of Dimapur Railway Station from Lumding to Tinsukia has come as a big blow especially the daily commuters, railway employees and commercial houses in and around Dimapur. The Railway Contactors Union Nagaland (RCUN) has taken the issue seriously as the move of the NFR Guwahati would not only jeopardize the economy of the region but also have far reaching consequences on social, educational and demographical structure of Dimapur in relation to other parts of the country. Upon receiving the information of NFR’s decision to shift the administration of Dimapur Railway Station from Lumding to Tinsukia, an emergency meeting of the RCUN was held at Dimapur on September 11. The union also made a series of argument points against the controversial move of the NFR. A statement issued by RCUN President Vihoshe Awomi, Spokesperson Andrew Ahoto, Press Secretary Chuba Ao and General Secretary Botoho Swu said,”It is really unfortunate that this malicious and nefarious move by the NFR has come at a time when countries like Japan and China are taking interests in collaborating with Indian Railways and operating Bullet Train Networks in India especially the Mumbai-Ahmedabad and Delhi-Chennai Corridors.” “When the entire Indian Railways is eager to make a massive face-lift and overhauling of its infrastructures, this decision on the part of NFR seems to be utterly primitive and thoughtless. Needless to say, there are some people and lobbies with vested interests who are working hand in gloves with the NFR Guwahati due to their ulterior motives of destabilizing the entire Railway Project in and around Dimapur especially after the Union Railway Minister, Suresh Prabhu recently declared the Dimapur Railway Station as a Model Railway Station after the Dimapur-Zubza Project foundation stone was laid.” “There is no iota of doubt that the administration of Dimapur Railway Station has become significant in recent years due to the fact that it earns more revenue than any other North Eastern State. As such, we argue as to why not make Dimapur a fully operational Divisional Headquarter under NFR and accord its long overdue status. Why should the NFR instead look towards Tinsukia as the only viable option? Are the people manning NFR Administration so short-sighted and against the Prime Minister Modi’s Look East and Act East Policy that they are trying their level best to deprive Dimapur Railway Station of all facilities? Already a memorandum has been submitted to the Union Railway Minister, R. Ravi by the RCUN for up gradation and modernization of Dimapur Railway Station. Is it a befitting manner of answering our legitimate demands? What has happened to the issues mentioned in the memorandum?” “NFR Guwahati has proved once and for all that there is no democratic handling of its affairs and that they are the most biased and illogical people in the Railway Fraternity by bringing Dimapur Railway Station under the ambit of Tinsukia Division which we oppose tooth and nail. RCUN stands committed for the welfare of the people of Nagaland and its adjoining areas and we strongly demand on behalf of the entire public and Railway Employees that Dimapur be upgraded to the level of Divisional Headquarter. We will never consider the option of the administrative headquarter being shifted to Tinsukia Division which will take us backward rather than looking forward with the vision of Look East Policy. Moreover, it is noteworthy that Dimapur is centrally located between Dibrugarh and Guwahati. Therefore it is highly questionable as to why NFR is focused on the development of Railways in Assam alone at the expense of Nagaland.” “It is not without any reason that we are making these legitimate arguments. The following few points of arguments were tabled at an Emergency Meeting of the RCUN held at Dimapur on 11th September 2016 upon receiving the alarming information of NFR’s decision to shift the administration of Dimapur Railway Station from Lumding to Tinsukia. These points will help in clearing any air of doubt surrounding this controversial move of the NFR. 1. In terms of revenue earning railway station under the NFR, Dimapur Railway Station stands in the second place whereas in terms of Per-Capita Rail Income under the NFR it stands undisputedly in the first place whereas Dimapur is a far smaller town in comparison with Guwahati. Dimapur also holds the position of being the second in terms of State-wise income. 2. If Dimapur Railway Station is brought under Tinsukia which is 265 KMs from Dimapur, there will be an undue delay in all commercial bookings of Business Racks under SLR Booking which is usually done in Lumding Div. HQ which is just 69 KMS from Dimapur and it is only a few hours distance from Dimapur and matters are sorted within a day. 3. Student concessions and Separate Coach bookings made for excursions and educational tours by educational institutions will become very difficult under the new administrative changes where the concerned party has to go to Tinsukia for the bookings delaying the whole process. 4. Special concession for Freedom Fighters which were always done from Lumding will become an issue of huge concern if it were to be done from Tinsukia Division. Did NFR think about these issues and the distance involved? 5. There is a system under the Railways whereby students and government employees including other workers who are regular railway travellers can avail monthly pass on payment of Rs. 100. This can only be availed through the Divisional Headquarter whereby seeking permission by travelling all the way to Tinsukia makes it cumbersome and a source of harassing the public knowingly. 6. The transportation of Local Agricultural Products will be seriously affected as the SLR Coach Permission for this kind of transportation comes from the Divisional Headquarter which is currently in Lumding. Imagine the plight of the local farmers and agricultural farms if their products get spoilt due to any and obvious delay from Tinsukia Division. Who will take the responsibility then? Will you NFR? 7. Whenever the Railway Employees in Dimapur are seriously sick they are immediately shifted to the Lumding Divisional Hospital whereas now any sick Railway Employee would have to travel a whooping 265 KMS for any serious health emergencies. 8. Another contention of Railway Employees is that any on-duty staff can attend the Lumding Divisional Office for official works within one day and return whereas now they have to go to Tinsukia, halt there for a night and return on the next day! Where is the logic of NFR in jeopardizing the lives and comfort of its own employees? 9. Another serious issue related to shifting the administration of Dimapur Railway Station to Tinsukia is the issue of Railway Accidents and Derailments. Will Dimpaur Railway Station wait for emergency relief services to arrive from as far as Tinsukia and abandon everything to make way for Recovery Vans to reach the accident spot only after a delay of around 10 hours or will it take necessary help and assistance from Lumding which is at an arm’s length? No amount of insanity can surpass the insanity of the NFR Guwahati this time. 10. All the above mentioned facilities will be unduly delayed and the smooth commercial and educational processes would be jeopardized if the Administrative Control of Dimapur Railway Station is shifted to Tinsukia from Lumding as all these facilities gets verified and controlled from the office of the Divisional Commercial Manager whose office is in the Divisional HQ. Did NFR overlook all these aspects? 11. Adding to all these credible issues arising out of the step-motherly treatment of Dimapur by NFR, the decision of all cases related to Railways being transferred from Dimapur to Tinsukia has also set alarms ticking as the local lawyers have since opposed any advocate from Dimapur to represent their clients. Justice will not only be delayed but also be denied under such circumstances. The insanity of the NFR has contagiously infected the Lawyer fraternity of Tinsukia as well as they have forgotten all ethics of Judiciary and Democracy. Why should the cases be referred to Tinsukia when Dimapur has its own District Magistrate’s Court? Why is there open syndicalism of Lawyers at Tinsukia? 12. Logistically, Dimapur is a very important geographical and commercial town, since it is the corridor for both Nagaland as well as Manipur along with some important towns of neighbouring state Assam, especially Karbi Anglong. Consequently, Dimapur Railway Station is one of the most important Railway Stations in the entire region which makes it even more logical to support the cause of Dimapur Railway Station being upgraded into a Divisional Headquarter. 13. Dimapur has always been receiving unfair treatment from the NFR Guwahati. Though it is the highest per-capita revenue generating Railway Station, there is only one Train, the Kamakhya-Dimapur Nagaland Express that originates from here. Earlier the Jan Shatabdi originated from Dimapur but later keeping up with the step-motherly treatment the point of origination was shifted from Dimapur to Jorhat and the train’s name was changed to Guwahati-Jorhat Jan Shatabdi Express.” “Everyone, including those at the helm of affairs must seriously ponder over this serious issue. They must make themselves aware and seriously take up this matter with utmost urgency at the highest level. Time has given us this opportunity to stand united in our efforts to fight this step-motherly treatment at the hands of the atrocious NFR. We fervently make this appeal to the State Governor, State Leaders including the Chief Minister of Nagaland, the Members of Parliament from Nagaland, NGO’s , etc. and every right-thinking citizen to act now and act tough so that we are not deprived of our legitimate rights and once and for all upgrade Dimapur to a model Railway Station along with making it a Divisional Headquarter for Nagaland and adjoining areas without any room for personal benefits and trick up anyone’s sleeves. “If the NFR does not change its stance on the current issue and does not withdraw its move/decision we will be constrained to use all democratic means to bring the NFR on the right track. NFR will be solely responsible for any demonstrations, picketing and economic blockades imposed due to its undemocratic choice of folly and dirty politics over people’s popular consensus and legitimate demands.”