Upgrade Dimapur Rly station to Division HQ: CM Zeliang

Dimapur, Sept 18 : Concerned over reports that Dimapur Railway Station is to be placed under Tinsukia Division from the erstwhile jurisdiction of Lumding, 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. According to Media Cell, Chief Minister's Office, Dimapur is one of the oldest and most important Railway Stations in the Northeast catering to the requirements of the states of Nagaland and Manipur as well as a large part of Karbi Anglong, the Chief Minister said adding, in terms of revenue generation, it is the second highest only next to Guwahati. Arguing that Dimapur deserves to be upgraded to a Division HQ, the chief minister pointed out that presently there are six Railway Divisions in the NE region and that Dimapur deserves to be one of them. The Chief Minister also pointed out the geographical distance between Tinsukia and Dimapur, which is about 250 km and Lumding about 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 Chief Minister reasoned, ‘will cause great inconvenience’ to the people of Nagaland, Manipur and parts of Assam, and the railway officials posted at Dimapur. Rather than placing Dimapur under another Railway Division, the Chief Minister requested that Dimapur Railway Station be upgraded to a Division HQ and that pending administrative approval be allowed to continue functioning under Lumding Division.