Kohima, March 23 (MExN): The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC), via its representative, has raised key issues hindering the timely completion of the Dimapur-Kohima Railway project and highlighted various challenges plaguing the Dimapur Railway Station during a recent meeting of the Divisional Railway Users Consultative Committee (DRUCC) in Lumding.
Akuonuo Miachieo, Secretary, NPCC, and a member of the DRUCC Lumding Division, noted during the committee’s meeting on March 21 that a large portion of railway land has been encroached upon by private settlers.
This has led to legal disputes and compensation demands, delaying the expansion of Dimapur Railway Station, she highlighted.
Miachieo called for a collaborative dialogue between the Railway Board and the State Government to resolve ownership conflicts and explore alternative solutions to avoid prolonged legal battles.
The NPCC member also flagged the short stoppage time of trains at Dimapur station, noting that they halt for only 2 to 5 minutes, causing inconvenience to passengers.
Due to limited parking space, trains are often held in Assam, affecting overall efficiency, she added.
Given Dimapur's strategic importance, she recommended a minimum halt time of 15-20 minutes, along with the expansion of parking and platform facilities.
With rising passenger demand at Dimapur station, Miachieo also stressed the urgent need to increase ticket allotment and seating capacity.
She suggested introducing a more efficient ticketing system to reduce last-minute congestion and improve passenger convenience.
Regarding the Dimapur-Kohima Railway project, Miachieo said construction work is frequently disrupted, reportedly due to security challenges, especially at Tunnel No. 6 and 7 near Tsiepama village.
She emphasised the need for enhanced security measures at critical construction sites to protect workers and ensure smooth project implementation.
Miachieo also highlighted that delays in land acquisition and rising compensation costs have slowed down the construction of tunnels, road over bridges (ROBs), and road under bridges (RUBs).
Contractors have incurred additional costs, leading to reimbursement delays, she said.
To this end, she called for fast-tracking land acquisition and ensuring the timely release of funds to avoid further delays and cost escalations, stated an NPCC press release.
