Chief Minister Conrad Sangma today said that the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has not closed the chapter of the railway project in Khasi Hills but at the same the railway project would not be forced.
“There is no question of closing it but there is no question of forcing it also,” Sangma said while speaking to media persons here.
Stating that the railway project in Khasi Hills is facing some hurdles due to certain concerns, Sangma said the State government is currently trying to find out if there are other regions in the State, who would be open to the idea of a railway line.
According to Sangma, a certain amount of funds was parked for the project and since it is not moving forward, the Government of India will ask questions as to how long the NFR will keep this fund.
“So either we give it back or we divert it to another project within the State itself and try to utilise that money so that it doesn’t go to waste and hence, we are exercising and trying to find out if there are other regions in the State, who would be open to the idea of a railway and that exercise has started,” he said.
“I have expressed the same to the railway minister and the railway minister has told me he is open to that idea. Therefore, we will examine it from that angle and if it is there, we would like to do that otherwise it will be a loss for the State in terms of finances as the money has already come in for certain parts of the railway.”
