Akuonuo Miachieo, Secretary of the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) and a member of the Divisional Railway Users Consultative Committee (DRUCC), Lumding Division, raised several key concerns regarding the timely completion of the Dimapur-Kohima Railway Project and the challenges facing Dimapur Railway Station. These issues were discussed during a DRUCC meeting held at Lumding, Assam, on March 21, 2025.
Miachieo highlighted five major issues, along with potential interventions to address them.
Land encroachment
According to Miachieo, “A large portion of railway land has been encroached upon by private settlers,” leading to legal disputes and compensation demands, which in turn delay the expansion of Dimapur Railway Station. To resolve this, she suggested, “A collaborative dialogue between the Railway Board and the State Government should be initiated to settle ownership conflicts and explore alternative solutions to avoid prolonged legal battles.”
Limited halt time at Dimapur Station
Miachieo pointed out that trains at Dimapur Station currently halt for only 2 to 5 minutes, causing significant inconvenience to passengers. “Due to limited parking space, trains are often held in Assam, affecting overall efficiency,” she noted.
Given Dimapur’s strategic importance, she recommended, “A minimum halt time of 15-20 minutes should be implemented, along with the expansion of parking and platform facilities.”
Security concerns
Security challenges were cited as a major disruption to construction work, particularly at Tunnel No. 6 and 7 near Tsiepama village.
Miachieo stated, “Construction work is frequently disrupted due to security challenges,” emphasizing that enhanced security measures at critical construction sites are necessary to protect workers and ensure smooth project implementation.
Infrastructure and cost escalation
Miachieo noted that delays in land acquisition and rising compensation costs have slowed down the construction of tunnels, road over bridges (ROB), and road under bridges (RUB). “Contractors have also incurred additional costs, leading to reimbursement delays,” she said. To address this, she stressed, “Fast-tracking land acquisition and ensuring the timely release of funds will help avoid further delays and cost escalations.”
Need for improved ticketing and more seats
With rising passenger demand at Dimapur Station, Miachieo underscored the urgency of increasing ticket allotment and seating capacity. “A more efficient ticketing system should be introduced to reduce last-minute congestion and improve passenger convenience,” she stated.