August 1, 2016 will be a ‘Red Letter Day’ for the state of Nagaland, when union railway minister Suresh Prabhu lays the foundation stone for the 123-kilometre (76 mile) long Dimapur-Zubza-Kohima new line project which has the status of a National Project.
The railway ministry has initially sanctioned an amount of Rs 850 crore for the implementation of the 40-km line from Dimapur to Zubza. According to an official source, there will be 46 major bridges, 13 road over bridges, 21 road under bridges and 24 tunnels in the entire length of the line.
The first phase of the construction would begin with laying 20-km tracks up to Chumukedima, out of which about five km would pass through the hilly areas. It is likely to be completed within a period of three years, out of the total estimated period of seven years for the full project, sources added. According to sources, the proposed railway link would connect 24 villages and towns through its route with the final halt at Thizama under Kohima district.
T.R.Zeliang has renewed his demand on the Centre to include Dhansiri-Karong line as it would promise the best railway alignment for onward connectivity to Imphal-Moreh and South East Asia.
The Dimapur (Dhansiripar)- Zubza-Kohima railway line has been pursued over the past few decades as per the government of India’s policy of linking all state capitals by rail.
With politics determining the course, Dimapur railway station has not been given its due by the central railway authorities.
Though Dimapur is the second highest revenue earning station after Guwahati for the NFR, not even one long distance train has been introduced from Dimapur. The only train starting from Dimapur is Nagaland Express from Dimapur-Guwahati.
Whereas 19 long and medium distance trains commence from Dibrugarh and another 21 long and medium distance trains commence from Tinsukia.
The Jan Shatabdi Express was introduced to Dimapur by then railway minister Ram Vilas Paswan during 1996. It was meant to link state capitals. Since Dimapur being the only railhead of Nagaland, the Jan Shatabdi was to run between Guwahati to Dimapur. Within a short span, Jan Shatabdi extended gradually to Furkating, Mariani and till Jorhat. Today it is known as Guwahati-Jorhat Jan Shatabdi Express.
Dimapur also has only one covered platform(No1) while the other platform (No.2) is still without a roof for many years.
Another dire need for promoting economic growth of Nagaland is the Dimapur-Tuli-Naginimora railway line which could haul tons of coal and bamboo products. The two railway lines have been on the anvil for several decades.
Improving the facilities at Dimapur Railway Station requires space but large portions have been encroached where religious structures have come up.
It may also be mentioned that the government of India also has a policy to link all state capitals with airports.
Former chief minister Neiphiu Rio continues to pursue the proposed ‘green field’ airport at Chiethu some 15 kms near Kohima, estimated at Rs.1231 crore . His successor, T.R.Zeliang however, has taken up another proposal for construction of an alternative ‘green field’ airport at Razaphema (around 67 kms from Dimapur)
Under the centre’s ‘green field’airports , the cost for the Gangtok Pakyong Airport in Sikkim was projected at Rs. 358.36 crore by the Sikkim government. This was approved by the Airport Authority of India. Likewise, Itanagar airport in Arunachal Pradesh was estimated of cost Rs. 699.66 crore and was approved by the Centre.