Moa Jamir
The policy to link the unconnected capitals of North-East India with rail, road, and air networks has been a cornerstone of the Government of India's development agenda over the past two decades. This was emphasised by the Union Ministry for Development of North-East Region (DoNER) statement in February 2011, with sector-wise priorities outlined. Although, the intention is commendable, the implementation continues to falter, plagued by delays, shifting timelines, and recurring challenges.
A glaring example is the Dimapur-Kohima New Line Project, which aims to connect Kohima, the capital of Nagaland, to the railway network. The latest update from a review meeting of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) Tinsukia Division on November 14 projects the target date of completion (TDC) for the Pherima-Zubza section, the last section of the project, as December 2029. This is a significant deviation from the original timelines of the project being executed by the NFR Construction Organisation.
However, past precedents suggest that even this revised deadline may not be met, despite its designation as a National Project in May 2007.
Initially, the DoNER Ministry's February 2011 statement set the TDC as March 2015. By November 2019, a written response in the Rajya Sabha by Railway Ministry indicated that construction work was in progress, with land disputes over an 8-kilometre stretch being resolved. The revised timeline set completion for three years after land acquisition.
Despite these assurances, instead of the whole project, the first section from Dhansiri to Shokhuvi, covering 16.2 km, was only inaugurated in August 2022. A top NFR official then stated that the next station at Molvom was expected to be opened by March or April 2023. One year and several months later, the new TDC is March 2025. Meanwhile, the entire project up to Zubza, initially targeted for 2026, now has a revised completion date of December 2029.
To grasp the underlying challenges, however, it is crucial to delve into the project's background, comprehensively detailed in the 2022 report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India. As per the CAG, a Reconnaissance Engineering-cum-Traffic Survey (RETS) was conducted by the NFR in 2004 and the Railway Board sanctioned the project in 2006-07 at an initial estimated cost of `850 crore for Dimapur to Kohima project. However, it was later realigned in 2010 following a request from the Nagaland Government, citing challenges such as reserve forests, a zoological park, high compensation demands, and the need to connect Ganesh Nagar Industrial Area. Thus, the take-off point was shifted to Dhansiri in Karbi Anglong, Assam.
Subsequently, the New BG Line from Dhansiri-Sukhovi to Zubza was sanctioned by the Union Ministry of Railways in August 2015 for Rs 2,309.96 crore. It was revised in May 2022 to current estimate of Rs 6,663.20 crore.
Nevertheless, the progress has remained sluggish at best. As of March 2022, the project’s physical and financial completion was below 25%, the CAG report stated, which further flagged several issues in the project such as laxity by railway authorities, irregularities in land acquisition, additional compensation due to reclassification of land, and poor contract management.
Almost two years eight months after, the progress stands at 59%, according to the November 14 review meeting. Earlier, delays were partly attributed to COVID-19 and land acquisition issues, but these are no longer relevant excuses. The prolonged delay in a National Project reflects systemic inefficiencies in implementation, and the Ministry of Railways, particularly the NFR, must undertake a serious review of its processes instead of issuing regular updates with assurances but shifting deadlines.
Equally concerning is the apparent inaction of the Nagaland State Government, which appears complacent with the status quo. The State Government must actively monitor and supervise the project while extending necessary support to address challenges faced by the implementing agency. Enforcing accountability at every level and ensuring that all stakeholders prioritise the project’s timely completion is imperative.
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