Title - RAIL NEWS CENTER: First railway station in Meghalaya soon

MENDIPATHAR (MEGHALAYA): Scripting a new chapter in the history of Indian railways, Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma on Saturday laid the foundation stone of Mendipathar railway station, which will be the first in the state.

Mendipathar railway station lies along the Dudhnoi-Mendipathar new broad gauge railway line project that will cost Rs 175.43 crore and is expected to be completed by March 2013. The total length of the broad gauge railway route from Dudhnoi (Assam) to Mendipathar (Meghalaya) is 19.75 km.

'It's a historic day for the people of the Garo hills and Meghalaya. I feel extremely happy to join the people of the North Garo Hills to rejoice this day, that will change the landscape of the Garo hills region in the future," said Sangma. He expressed happiness that despite lots of constraints, including land acquisition for constructing rail routes, finally the time has come when foundation station of the first railway station of Meghalaya was laid down. However, he cautioned that there should be no more delay in connecting the rail route.

The Meghalaya government, North Garo Hills district administration and locals should join hands so that the March 2013 target of completion of the project can be achieved, said the chief minister.

Sangma admitted that lack of rail connectivity to Meghalaya in the last few decades have been a factor of for Meghalaya's underdevelopment. "The change in the socio-economic life of the people of Goalpara, Dudhnoi and Jogighopa in neighbouring Assam can be attributed to the linking of this part of Assam through railways," the chief minister added.

Sangma added that the state government is keen to extend railway track between Dudhnoi and Mendipathar to Tura and Dobu in Meghalaya. General manager of NF Railway RS Virdi said rail connectivity to Meghalaya will usher in prosperity in the state