DIMAPUR, AUGUST 10: The governor of Nagaland (and Assam) is not too happy at what he considers ‘snail-paced progress’ of railway extension works in Nagaland. He wants the railway authorities to pull up their socks and start walking the talk.
The matter was one of the several concerns he raised before officials of the North East Frontier Railways during a meeting at the Raj Bhavan recently.
Governor PB Acharya held discussions with the general manager of the North East Frontier Railway Chahetey Ram and discussed with him various ongoing projects that the railways agency was undertaking in the north east region. The two met on August 8.
The governor had invited General Manager Chahatey Ram and other officers of the railways to the Raj Bhawan on Monday to know about the railway’s performance in the north east region including various ongoing projects that the Northeast Frontier Railways had undertaken.
Governor Acharya asked the general manager and other officers to be ‘more people-friendly’ and also to upgrade services as per the need of the passengers. He also advocated that the railway authorities should make use of latest technologies to improve the services of the railways.
The governor also said that all the model stations in the region should have all modern amenities including all technological solutions for the convenience of railway commuters. He asked the railway officers to make co-operative societies to make railways an industry ‘driven by the power of the people and help railways play a constructive role for the empowerment of the society.’
Acharya also advised the general manager to conceive new marketing policies which he said would ‘create emotional integration among all the geographical entities that the railways traverse.’ The governor also asked the officials to tie up with universities for skill education.
Further, Acharya expressed his concern over what he called the ‘snail-paced progress’ of railway extension works in Nagaland and asked the authorities to lay more emphasis on the extension project and develop a well-concerted railway connectivity in Nagaland.
Another concern he expressed was for Dimapur railway station. He also called upon the officials to take up development projects for Dimapur Railway Station. The governor wanted that the railway authority incorporate Dimapur in the ‘clean train stations’ category along with Katihar, New Jalpaiguri and Guwahati.
Another facility that he sought was for more ticket counters in Dimapur to cater to the needs of passengers.
Further, Acharya urged the railway officers to be ‘proactive in solving various issues’ and expedite execution of development projects ‘on a fast track basis for the benefit of the people of the north east.
