Compensation rate agreed on by most land owners
DIMAPUR, MAY 7 (MExN): The proposed Dimapur-Kohima (Zubza) railway line, which has been delayed for many years, is likely to go full steam ahead once the issue of land compensation is settled.
Officials of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) reportedly informed that survey works would be completed by May this year and by any means, construction of rail tracks has to start by August next, as per directives of the Railway Ministry.
A six-member NFR team led by Deputy Chief Engineer (Con/Sur) held a meeting on Monday in the DC’s conference hall with land owners of Chumukedima, General Manager NST, Revenue Officer Dimapur and surveyors under the Chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Dimapur, N Hushili Sema. Sources informed that the NFR officials in the meeting informed that since the Ministry of Railways had already sanctioned the project, construction works should commence latest by August.
The Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur informed that landowners of Dhansiri and Shoxuvi villages have agreed to land compensation rate of Rs. 25 per square feet fixed by the government. The DC asked the Chumukedima landowners to intimate whether they too would agree to the government rate and the latter replied that they cannot give a decision at the moment as all affected landowners of Chumukedima were not present in the meeting.
The proposed track would pass through 4-5km of plain area in Chumukedima, which is developed and prime land, sources said. This is the third alignment, after the previous two were dropped due to various problems related to land compensation and non-clearance from the Environment Ministry as in the previous alignments, the tracks would have to pass through the Rangapahar Zoological Park. The third alignment steers clear of the park’s land.
It may be mentioned the proposed railway line between Dimapur and Kohima was surveyed way back in 2008, but the project failed to kick off due to opposition from the landowners, who were not ready to part with their lands. Most of the landowners under the earlier alignments demanded a higher rate of land compensation. The Railway Ministry has reportedly sanctioned Rs. 850 crore for the construction of a railway line between Dimapur and Zubza, some 15 km from state capital Kohima.
Survey for railway alignment on May 13
The Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur, N Hushili Sema has informed all concerned GBs, Chairman and land owners that a joint survey by a team comprising of railway, district administration, transport officials, land records and survey officials, village functionaries and land owners would be conducted on May 13. The DC informed in a press note that the survey would be done for the demarcation of land and “identification of actual land owners” in the development of a new railway alignment from Dhansiri Railway station of Assam upto Piphema. The DC has requested all the GBs and chairmen concerned to extend full cooperation to the survey team.
