Nagaland’s lone Rajya Sabha MP and NPF secretary general, K.G. Kenye has taken up the issue of neglect of Dimapur railway station with North Frontier Railway (NFR) authorities following recent reports by Nagaland Post highlighting lack of passenger amenities, unhygienic conditions, lack of adequate tickets and quotas including connecting trains.
Despite Dimapur railway station being the second highest revenue earner for the NFR after Guwahati, it is given a step-motherly treatment with the least being given in terms of passenger amenities and connectivity.
In his address at the consultative meeting of NFR authorities and MPs representing areas under Lumding division held at Maligaon on September 28, Kenye sought immediate attention of NRF for urgent improvement of Dimapur railway station. Making a strong plea, Kenye maintained that Dimapur station “cannot be neglected” in infrastructure and passenger amenities since the station serves both Nagaland, Manipur as well as parts of upper Assam.
As highlighted in the report by Nagaland Post, Kenye raised the issue of lack of amenities for passengers including the shocking unhygienic condition, which he demanded, ought to be addressed without further delay. He also wanted to know why passenger shed at platform No.2 could not be constructed till date. In response NFR authorities informed that the reason was due to land encroachment which impeded the construction work.
Kenye then requested the chief engineer of the division to plan out an alternative for construction of the much needed waiting shed at PF No.2 keeping in mind that the land issue may take time in case the matter was lying in the court. He also demanded construction of rest room for passengers and installation of solar plant at the roof top of the station building. Kenye also urged NFR to complete the Dimapur (Dhansiri) to Zubza railway project within the stipulated time. He also requested that reservation policy in railway recruitment be adopted to provide more benefits to local people who would be in a more advantageous position to serve their respective areas of operation since Lumding is spread over a multi-ethnic area having particular problems.
According to PRO to the MP, Kenye also reminded NFR on the strategic location of the region surrounded by five countries with insurgency-related problems and which demanded increase of Railway Protection Force to ensure safety of passengers.