Kohima to get rail link by 2026: NFR

September 4, 2021 36 Views No Comment

Correspondent KOHIMA, SEP 4 (NPN) : Construction of the railway network between Dimapur and Kohima (Dhansiri–Zubza rail line) is going at fast pace and it is expected that by 2026, Kohima will be connected by rail after other stations ahead are linked batch-wise in 2022 and 2023.

This was stated by General Manager Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) Anshul Gupta while interacting with media persons here Friday. Gupta is currently leading a team of NFR officials in inspecting the ongoing railway construction work between Dimapur to Kohima. Gupta and other officials in the NFR delegation held a meeting with state chief secretary Jane Alam Friday where they discussed on how to accelerate the project to connect Kohima at the earliest possible time.

It may be noted that the rail route covers 82.3 km from Dhansiri to its terminal station at Zubza.

Gupta also acknowledged that the hilly terrain between Dimapur and Kohima was challenging but that did not deter the construction work which has been going on round the clock. Gupta said a team of engineers are on with the job to hasten the pace of work and ensure timely completion of the project.

Once the project is operational, Gupta said railways will carry automobiles, construction materials and essential commodities directly to Kohima and other capitals of the region.

He also informed that railways has Kissan Rail which carries farm produce from one state to another so that farmer incomes can be doubled. Gupta said the state government has also accepted the proposal for Kissan Rail and assured it will pursue the matter with farmers in Nagaland. He also said the Railway ministry plans to connect all district headquarters and the proposal will be made after conducting survey work.

Gupta also expressed happiness at the outcome of the meeting with the state chief secretary, which he termed it as “very cordial”. He said the state government was also forthcoming with its willingness to facilitate successful and early completion of the project.

The NFR delegation is also scheduled to inspect the Zubza-Dhansiri segment of the project and follow it up with an inspection of the Shukhovi station on September 4.

It may be recalled that teh Centre had allocated Rs 8,060 crore to the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) including Rs 800 crore for Dimapur-Zubza project in this year’s Budget.

The NFR on August 30 informed the Nagaland State Transport (NST) department that 98% physical progress had been achieved in Dhansiri-Shukhovi (16.50 km), 24% in Shukhovi-Pherima (28 km) and 2% in Pherima-Zubza (38 km) sections of the new railway line being constructed between Dhansiri and Zubza.

The 82.3-km stretch will have 20 tunnels spanning 26 km, besides 19 major bridges. Estimated to cost Rs 700 crore, land acquisition in the Dhansiri-Sukhovi section has been completed and its target date for commission has been fixed as October 2021. The second phase, which is the Sukhovi-Pherima section, has been estimated to cost Rs 2,052 crore and its land acquisition too has been completed.

The project cost of the Pherima-Zubza section, which is Phase-III, is Rs 4,159 crore, and its land acquisition too has been completed.

Source: http://www.nagalandpost.com/kohima-to-get-rail-link-by-2026-nfr/239587.html