Rio complains Centre withholding ‘fruit of freedom’ to NE Region

EMN
DIMAPUR, JULY 16

Member of the Lok Sabha Neiphiu Rio is not happy at the central government for not accommodating the northeastern states in the railway budget, saying that the ‘fruit of freedom’ since Indian independence continues to be withheld from the neglected region.
The Member of the Lok Sabha participated in the discussions of the Railway Budget for 2014-2015 on Wednesday.
Rio appreciated the increase of 54% budget allocation for the North East Region railways sector. However, he said that “except Assam,” all other states in the northeast region “could not improve much till date,” according to the press release.
The former chief minister of questioned that if Jammu & Kashmir could be connected well by a railway network, why could not the northeast states enjoy that facility. “After 67 years of India’s independence and 50 years of statehood, we still remain the same with just 8 km stretch of railway line which was built during the British time. Fruit of freedom has not yet reached us,” the Naga leader lamented to the parliament.
The former chief minister of Nagaland explained that the Diphu Dhansari-Karong railway line was sanctioned in 1997-98 and the foundation stone was laid in 1998. “But it was diverted from Jiriban to Tupul in Manipur which need to be reviewed and taken up by the Railway Ministry as the original proposal for construction of railway line from Diphu Dhansari to Karong.”
Another line he mentioned was the Dimapur-Zubza railway line. He said that the project was sanctioned in 2006-2007 but the implementation of the project was delayed due to land acquisition problems which have since been resolved. The ministry should carry out the project on priority, he said.
“Dimapur-Tizit railway line is one of the main line for the state as this will connect from the east to west of the state, covering 300 km and will traverses rich mineral belt including oil fields and will also act as a feeder to Tuli Paper Mill. Further it will cross through vast area of agri-farming, tea cultivation, bamboo and other cash crops farming in the state,” he said.
He has also called for improvement and up-gradation of Dimapur railway station on “need priority as it serve passengers from Nagaland, Manipur and part of Assam.” It also serves as a strategic point for defense, army and other military and paramilitary force in the region, he said.
“Dimapur being one of the busiest stations next to Guwahati need to have more platforms, adding of more coaches, increase of seat reservation quota, improvement of existing platform with modern technologies to serve the ably disabled persons as well,” the Naga leader said.
He has called for the attention of the Railway Minister and the parliament to consider the points “in the greater interest of the state in particular and the north east region in general.”