Meghalaya Minister demands Guwahati-Dhaka rail line via Baghmara

Amid stiff opposition from several quarters including pressure groups and student bodies, Meghalaya Minister for Education and Border Area Development Minister, Rakkam Sangma on Wednesday batted for rail line connecting Guwahati with Dhaka, the capital city of neighbouring Bangladesh via Baghmara in Meghalaya.

The Minister further said that rail projects might have its demerits but people should weigh the merits as rail connectivity would bolster job and business opportunities, help unemployed youths of the state and boost trade and economy and the living condition of the people of Meghalaya.

Mentioning that there was a proposal to have a rail project connecting Guwahati and Haluaghat in Bangladesh through Baghmara during the time of Captain Williamson Sangma as the CM, Minister Sangma said, “I will still demand to make this happen. Baghmara can be the corridor for Meghalaya, Northeast. It can connect directly to Dhaka. The trade and business and employment opportunities will rise, businesses will flourish. Our economy will improve. As MLA from the district I will be meeting the Chief Minister very soon.

The Minister said that he would submit a letter and a petition to develop Baghmara as an integrated check gate through which the overseas tourists, businessmen can come in, the rail connectivity can be done and the economy of the people will improve manifold.

Speaking as the Education Minister of Meghalaya, Sangma said that every year Meghalaya produces more than 18,000 to 20,000 graduate and Post Graduates, only 1500 or 2000 government jobs are available for them which means the state is has a huge number of educated unemployed youth. “If railway comes, job opportunities will come. Yes, there may be issues with each one of us. Railways may have its demerits but merits, connectivity, job opportunities, business opportunities have to be considered. All big states and cities have rail connectivity”.

Citing the example of Dimapur in Nagaland which has a rail connectivity, the Minister said that people from Garo Hills are going to Dimapur to buy clothes because it is cheaper there. They are going to do business in Dimapur.

“We need more industry, more market, more business, more institutions that will create more employment. Livelihood is above everything else. Managing Influx should also be a priority. Provision of 6th schedule is our weapon and people should know about it. I would like to introduce the 6th schedule in curriculum. 6th schedule should be strengthened. People should compare the merits and demerits and decide accordingly,” the Minister said.

The 108-km Byrnihat-Shillong railway project is in doldrums. Apart from the Byrnihat-Shillong project, the 22-km Tetelia-Byrnihat railway line has also remained a non-starter in Meghalaya despite making considerable progress in Assam, with 10 km of the Tetelia-Kamalajari section being completed and commissioned.

It may be mentioned that when it comes to the railways in the Khasi Hills and Ri Bhoi sections, everything is being put on hold amid various NGOs and the Khasi Students Union (KSU) opposing railway projects in the state, fearing an illegal influx of immigrants posing a threat to the indigenous communities.