Maligaon, June 6 (MExN): Nagaland holds an important position in the development of the North East Region and the Railway’s efforts in transforming the state through transportation will lead to the region’s holistic development, the NFR stated on Monday.
Along these lines, the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) highlighted efforts put in by the Central Government for development of Nagaland in the past eight years, including the plan to connect capitals of all North-eastern states by broad gauge rail link, as per a press release issued by the NFR’s Chief Public Relations Officer Sabyasachi De.
Accordingly, works on the new broad gauge railway line from Dimapur to Kohima are going on in full swing and is expected to ready by March 2026, De informed.
The NFR is executing the 82.50 Km long railway project from Dimapur to Kohima (Zubza) at an anticipated cost of Rs 6,648 crore. It includes 8 new stations, 22 major bridges, 165 minor bridges, 35 Road Over Bridges/ Road Under Bridges, and 31 km of tunnel work, as per the release.
De informed that another 257 km long new Railway line project from Dimapur to Tizit at an anticipated cost of Rs 4,274 crore is also sanctioned and the survey for a new line at a stretch of 47.40 Km between Furkating – Baghty Valley (24.10 Km in Nagaland and 23.30 Km in Assam) has also been completed. The new rail connectivity will make goods transportation easier and will largely help in boosting the economy of Nagaland.
Redevelopment of Dimapur station
According to the release, Dimapur station has also been selected for redevelopment. Under this, the station shall be redesigned for modern state of art facilities, modern passenger amenities and enhanced passenger interface.
The release stated that the Indian Railways had also taken up a number of projects for infrastructure development in Dimapur during 2014-22. These include making the railway system passenger friendly by providing toilets and ramps for Divyangjan at Dimapur Railway Station; addition of new premium air-conditioned waiting hall with modern amenities; development of better infrastructural facilities in the platform and circulating area; and provision of bottle crusher machines, water vending machine and airport type pay and use toilets at the station.
Along with this, the NFR has been on the forefront of implementing green initiatives with 100% LED lights in the stations in Nagaland, De stated in the release.
Realizing the dream of Digital India and Information Technology-oriented passenger applications, Passenger Reservation System (PRS), Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS) have also been provided in Nagaland, along with passenger baggage screening system, coach indication display system and Integrated Passenger Information System. Digital Museum and Free high-speed Wi-Fi have been provided at Dimapur station, it said.
Different important infrastructural and long pending works were completed during lockdown, the release stated, while adding that 8 Shramik Special trains were in operation to carry migrant workers to their native state, Nagaland.
The goods shed at Dimapur has been revamped with improved facilities and opened for outer stone chips. 740 freight trains arrived in Nagaland with essential commodities during 2014-22, it added.
