Rail link along Indo-Bangla border proposed

The North East Frontier Railway has proposed a rail link connecting key trading points along the Bangladesh border in Assam and Meghalaya.

The Rs 16,000-crore proposal, for setting up the rail tracks from Jogighopa in Goalpara district of Assam to Silchar in south Assam via some key trading points along Bangladesh border like Dawki, Shella and Baghmara, has been submitted to the railway ministry.  

"The length of the proposed rail track is around 437 km and it intends to run through the southern hill slopes of Meghalaya," Chief Secretary of Meghalaya, Ranjan Chatterjee said after a meeting with railway officials here last evening.  

He added the model has worked well in Tripura and if the project is implemented here, it would boost the state's economy.  

"The state is engaged in a lot of business activity with Bangladesh. Once the rail track comes up, roads connecting the stations would also have a face-lift. Besides, it would provide an alternative and cheaper mode of transport," Chatterjee said.

Meghalaya Chief Minister D D Lapang, who is scheduled to reach New Delhi today, is likely to take up the project with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee.  

The railway line proposes to connect the plains falling under Indo-Bangladesh border, Chatterjee added.  

Meghalaya does not have rail connectivity.