MDA govt mulling introduction of goods train: Conrad

SHILLONG, MAR 8: The MDA government is considering introducing the goods train in the state.

Addressing media persons after chairing a cabinet meeting on Monday, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the railway issue has been a long pending issue in the state and it requires a lot of consultation and discussion with all the stakeholders.

“It also requires confidence building. Therefore, one should realize that this will be in the long term benefit for the state and the people,” Sangma said.

Stating that few confident measures have been taken in this regard, the chief minister cited the recent opening of the entry point (or facilitation centre) at Umling in Ri Bhoi as an example.

Sangma further added, “We are ready with the facilitation centre at Mendipathar, which can be started at any given time…we are working towards making the facilitation centres at Ratacherra and other places also functional.”

Stating that his government is working towards introducing goods trains in the state, the chief minister said, “…we are working towards taking things one step at a time by at least working towards getting the goods train out here.”

He said the Union Minister for Railways Piyush Goyal has also liked that idea saying “let us start with the goods train because that would benefit the people.”

According to him, the decision was taken after seeing the challenges faced by the state during COVID-19 pandemic last year.

He said the state could not get the goods directly by train beside the challenges related to the coming in of the trucks from outside and that people had to be checked and the danger of COVID coming in was high.

Claiming that the government has received positive responses from all angles regarding the effort to introduce goods trains in the state, the chief minister said, “I am hopeful we are able to carry everybody along and find an amicable solution to this issue also.”

Asked, Sangma said “It is a process and I think it is incorrect for me to give a date on it, it is a process and we hope we’re able to resolve the differences and the concerns of the respective individuals.”

By Our Reporter