DIMAPUR — During the ongoing budget session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly, MLA Achumbemo Kikon raised a starred question on Tuesday concerning the status of the railway line from Furkating Railway Station in Assam to Baghty town, Wokha.
Minister of Health and Family Welfare Paiwang Konyak replied that a RET feasibility survey sanctioned for the new railway line (47.4 km) has been completed and the report has been sent to the Railway Board. The project can only commence after the execution of the final location survey and the sanctioning of a detailed project report, he added.
The former Transport Minister mentioned that the authorities are apprehensive of the project as surveys have indicated a negative return on revenue from the proposed railway line. He, however, assured that the department would take up the project discussion at the earliest and try to sort out the issues delaying the project, according to a DIPR report.
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, meanwhile, said that the government would definitely work towards establishing the railway line in question.
In response to another starred question put up by MLA A Nyamnyei Konyak on the current status of the railway line between Dimapur and Tizit, he responded that the final location survey is kept in abeyance and that the fund allocation for the project till date was reported as nil, while the commencement of the work on the project was to be decided only after completion of the survey and sanctioning of a detailed project report.
The minister further added that the Ministry of Railways had communicated to the department that the project could be expedited if the state government bears 50% of the project cost and also asked the state to provide land free of charge.
Subsequently, local MLAs had a meeting with the local tribal bodies, he said, adding that the Mon District Tribal Hoho agreed for no compensation on forest lands but asked for compensation on developed areas. Mokokchung District land owners asked for category-wise compensation of lands, while it was reported that Lotha Hoho had opposed the railway line.
However, Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton clarified that the Lotha Hoho has not opposed but has assured that compensation-free lands will be provided for the railway if only the Foothill Road is first completed.