Train expected to reach Kohima by 2026 — Anshul Gupta

Our Correspondent

Kohima, Sep. 3 (EMN): The General Manager of North East Frontier Railway (NFR), Anshul Gupta, has said that the Ministry of Railway targets to complete the Dimapur-Zubza railway line project and the train to arrive in Kohima by 2026.

Gupta said this during an interaction with journalists after meeting with the chief secretary of the state at the Nagaland Civil Secretariat in Kohima, on Friday.

The general manager of NFR is on a two-day visit to Nagaland to oversee the implementation of the capital rail connectivity project.

“There were few issues and solutions which have been discussed with the state government, where most of the issues have been solved,” he said.

He added that “we will be working fast so that the state connectivity of train to Kohima can come soon”.

When asked if the projects were being executed as per the specifications, he replied that the Ministry of Railways is constructing the project accordingly.

While expressing hope to connect Kohima with rail line by 2026, Gupta said the railway facility would arrive in batches with some stations to be connected next year and some in 2023.

He said the terrains were difficult but they were working around the clock. ‘Our team of engineers and private sectors are working to build all the bridges and tunnels, which is a difficult process,’ he added.

Replying a query about the ministry’s future plans for Nagaland, he said it would work on connecting more districts in the state by rail line, added that ‘survey will be made and come out with joint proposals’.

He described his meeting with the chief secretary as “very positive and helpful” and expressed confidence that they would achieve their target (completion of rail project) with the help of the state government.

Gupta added that they also discussed about all the railway stations and how the network could be utilised in the best way to ensure that the economic activities around the stations grow.

He said that they dwelled on ‘Kisan wave’, stating that the railways was willing to carry products from the area.

“The state of Nagaland has accepted our request; they will also pursue with the farmers here and the growers and those into plantation,” he said, while adding that ‘agriculture will also develop’.

He maintained that with the facility, the farmer and producers could bring all the produce to the nearest railway station in Nagaland and export to the other parts of the country. “This will help the farmers in doubling their income,” he pointed out.

The General Manager and his team of senior officials are slated to inspect the railway project sites and stations — Zubza-Dhansiri; Sukhovi station and Sukhovi for Dimapur Railway station — on Saturday.