Kohima: The Nagaland Tribes Council is demanding answers. Officials want to know why the Dimapur-Kohima rail link remains unfinished after two decades. The project started back in 2006-07 with a price tag of Rs 850 crore. It is now a sinkhole for public money.
A Public Accounts Committee report presented on August 4 revealed total spending hit Rs 6,663.20 crore by May 2020. That is more than seven times the initial estimate. The council noted that physical progress sits at less than 25 percent. "The council expressed concern that despite the expenditure, no tangible progress had been achieved by August 2026," officials stated in a press release.
NTC president C Pankathung Lotha and general secretary C Onen Walling slammed the lack of transparency. They pointed to the PAC findings regarding questionable alignment shifts and land acquisition irregularities. The report even highlighted the unnecessary purchase of Digital Terrain Modelling and Digital Elevation Modelling data from the United States. There is zero data on progress or spending after May 2020.
This rail line is vital. It would cut the commute between Dimapur and the capital to 45 minutes. Nagaland lacks rail, air, and water links outside of Dimapur. The NTC is now pushing the state government and local MPs to confront railway authorities. They want the construction finished now to stop the endless cost hikes.
Comments