DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 19 (MExN): Concerned with reports that Dimapur railway Station is to be placed under Tinsukia Division from the erstwhile jurisdiction of Lumding, Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang today shot off a letter to Union Railway Minister, Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu pointing out ground realities that Dimapur itself deserves to be upgraded as a Division. Dimapur is one of the oldest and most important Railway Stations in the NE catering to requirements of Nagaland and Manipur as well as a large part of Karbi Anglong, the CM said, and in terms of revenue generation, it is the second highest only next to Guwahati.
The CM argued Dimapur deserves to be upgraded to a Division HQ. He pointed out that presently there are six Railway Divisions in the NE and that “Dimapur deserves to be one of them.”
The CM also pointed out the geographical distance between Tinsukia and Dimapur, which is about 250 kms, and said for all practical purposes, Lumding, which is hardly a 100 km away, would be more convenient as compared to the former Division HQ.
The reported change of relocating Dimapur to Tinsukia Division HQ, the CM reasoned, “will cause great inconvenience” to the people that Dimapur railway serves.
The CM requested that Dimapur be upgraded to a Division HQ and that pending administrative approval, it be allowed to continue functioning under Lumding Division.
