Title - Meghalaya to get its first Railway station soon

Improving connectivity in northeast is one of the prime agendas of the Centre that is actively working to enhance the efficiency of the existing rail, roads and airways network in the region. Scripting a new chapter in the history of Meghalaya, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma recently laid the foundation of the first railway station at Mendipathar in Garo hills. After years of hard work and persuasion to the resisting forces, the state is finally on the railway map of India. Mendipathar railway station in Garo hills will now be connected with Dudhnoi in Assam through a broad gauge line that will cover a distance of 19.5 kilometers. The first railway line of Meghalaya, being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 144 crore, is expected to be functional by March 2013. The railway line will facilitate in improving connectivity between Assam and Meghalaya, thereby opening a lot of business opportunities for the people of both the states. It will save cargo costs, travel costs, and reduce the travel time from Assam to Garo hills. Speaking on the occasion, Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said, "This is just a beginning. We have achieved a milestone in bringing Meghalaya to the map of railways and getting it connected to the rest of the country." On the anvil is another project connecting Tetelia in Assam with Byrnihat in Meghalaya and another linking Byrnihat with New Shillong. The new rail link will promote tourism in the region and generate revenues for the state. The rail network in the northeast region is increasing as government has initiated many railway projects. Large number of trains on a daily basis connect the Northeast region to different parts of country. Some of its flagship projects are Bogibeel Rail project connecting Assam and Arunachal, Imphal-Jiribam Rail link connecting Jiribam with Imphal, Dimapur Express connecting Dimapur with Guwahati and Agartala-Akhaura Rail link connecting Tripura directly with Chittagong in Bangladesh. "The state will witness multidimensional growth and a socio-economic transformation once railway line links it with other parts of the country," Roy added. With the increasing railway connections, people from all over the country will be able to visit northeast and explore its beauty. It will not only give a huge fillip to the tourism industry but will also speed up the industrialization process of the region. (ANI)