KOHIMA: Nagaland is set to get its third railway station in 2024. While sharing this news on the second day of the ongoing monsoon session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) on Tuesday, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said that the Molvom Railway Station, located in Chumoukedima district along the Dimapur (Dhansiri)-Kohima (Zubza) Railway line, is set to be operational by the next year.
The Chief Minster informed that the Dimapur (Dhansiri)-Kohima (Zubza) railway line has received approval, and surveys are underway to expand the rail network beyond Kohima, reaching areas like Mao, Senapati, Kangkokpi, Imphal, Moreh, and onward to South East Asian countries.
Highlighting the significance of connecting with the National Highway-39, a vital route for South East Asia, Chief Minister Rio also informed that extending the railway line to Zubza would take some time due to land-related challenges, particularly the construction of tunnels.
Additionally, Rio also noted that the Sukhovi railway station has been thriving since its inauguration over a year ago, signifying the potential and importance of rail connectivity in the region.
The Chief Minister was responding to a query raised by MLA Nuklutoshi Longkumer regarding the status of the 10th Mile Railway Station in Tuli, Mokokchung district.
Minister P Paiwang Konyak provided an update on the Tuli Railway Station, stating that it had offered passenger services from December 2002 to July 2007 but was suspended due to limited patronage and passenger numbers. Currently, the station remains open for handling outbound goods traffic.
“This year, till date, four rakes were handled. However, there are no passenger services that serve the station,” the Minister added.
Currently, two railway stations are operational in the state – Dimapur and Sukhovi, which commenced operations in August last year.
