The Railway Contractors’ Union Nagaland (RCUN) has expressed deep concern over the growing issue of illegal encroachments on railway land in Dimapur, which is hindering the progress of the station’s redevelopment under the Amrit Bharat Scheme. It also called upon authorities to take immediate corrective measures, especially regarding the eviction of illegal encroachers, to ensure that Dimapur Railway Station becomes the world-class facility it is intended to be.
RCUN through a press statement lauded the awareness raised by the Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU) as an important stakeholder of the redevelopment process of the Dimapur Railway Station. RCUN requested all to take the stand made by DNSU as a positive one and support all such initiatives which are aimed at the overall development of the state and its people.
However, the union has also highlighted the persistent issue of encroachments, which threaten the successful implementation of the redevelopment project.
Established in 1903 by the British, Dimapur Railway Station has played a significant role in the economic growth of Nagaland, serving as the primary railhead of the state and the highest per-capita revenue earning station under the Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR). Due to its importance, the station has been earmarked for redevelopment under the Amrit Bharat Scheme. This redevelopment is seen as an opportunity to elevate Dimapur’s stature, benefiting the local population through improved facilities and increased economic prospects.
“Due to the initiatives taken by the Central Government, the Dimapur Railway Station has been earmarked as a World Class Railway Station. This will result in the overall growth in economic opportunities for the citizens of Nagaland as a whole,” RCUN said.
However, RCUN pointed out that rampant illegal encroachments on railway land are a serious roadblock to the station’s progress despite clear directives from the Lumding Divisional Headquarters and provisions under the Railway Act of 1989.
Under Chapter-VIII A of the Railway Act of 1989, there should be adequate demarcation and distance from all railway property including railway tracks and no encroachment or construction should be done anywhere near the railway properties. This rule has been blatantly flouted by subsequent administrations for a long period of time, RCUN said.
”Consequently, the fate of the Dimapur Railway Station as a World Class Railway Station hangs in thin balance. If proper corrective measures are not put into action immediately, we may permanently lose this golden opportunity of putting Dimapur on the map of development,” RCUN said.
Hence, the union has called for the immediate eviction of these encroachers under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971, with due compensation provided to affected patta holders. RCUN has also strongly criticized the involvement of some government officials in facilitating illegal land grabbing, urging for their immediate arrest and fair trial.
In this regard, RCUN said the authorities, including the Nagaland State Government and the Indian Railways, should be aware that the encroachment of Railway property is mainly carried out under a “meticulous plan of some land mafias and grabbers who have made Dimapur as a safe haven for generations and have been illegally usurping government land plots by conniving with some corrupted individuals in the land revenue department and the district administration.”
This must be immediately checked and the circle of corruption and illegal land grabbing should be broken, “otherwise many such people centric programmes like the redevelopment of the Dimapur Railway Station will always be hampered and will never be realized thereby giving rise to dissatisfaction from all corners.”
RCUN also demanded the immediate arrest and fair trial of those government officials “who have been directly or indirectly involved in the issue of illegal land encroachment and issue of unscrupulous land pattas to the land mafias and encroachers.”
The Union has called on the general public, civic bodies, and local councils to take responsibility and prevent further encroachments, stressing that the redevelopment of the railway station will benefit the entire state.
In addition to the encroachment issue, the Union has raised concerns about the shifting of the Nagaland Express from Dimapur to Assam due to the lack of space at Dimapur Railway Station for parking and originating. It also requested the NFR for an increase in ticket quotas for passengers boarding at Dimapur and to address manipulation by ticketing agencies.
RCUN also expressed disappointment at the “stark apathy of the VVIPs towards the issue of redevelopment of Dimapur Railway Station,” questioning if it is because they are so habituated in travelling by Air that they have lost the common touch. It said that the Railway is the cheapest and the safest mode of travel for most of the common people and that everyone must support in the endeavour of its development instead of being passive about it.
RCUN also urged the public to “think globally and act locally,” participating in the development process and supporting the redevelopment efforts, “ensuring that civic activities are not hampered through illegal and selfish land grabbing and by willingly sacrificing necessary land for widening of roads and drainage in their own locality.”