BAN asks Northeast Frontier Railway to upgrade it to “fully automatic railway station”
To harness the untapped potential of the Tuli Railway Station, the Business Association of Nagas (BAN) has formally requested the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) to revamp the nearly-defunct station into a “fully automatic railway station with three lines.” BAN member Akum Jamir emphasized the substantial revenue generated by the station, urging authorities to address its “very pathetic” condition.
During a presentation to KK Sharma, the Senior Divisional Commercial Manager of NFR, Akum Jamir revealed staggering revenue figures attributed to the Tuli goods train. In the fiscal year 2020-21, the station contributed Rs 58,54,650; the following year witnessed a significant surge to Rs 12,68,87,990, and in 2022-23, it reached Rs 15,90,81,209. The latest report for 2023-24 indicates a remarkable figure of almost Rs 24 crore.
Despite these substantial contributions, Akum Jamir highlighted the deplorable state of Tuli Railway Station, describing it as “unusable in a very pathetic situation.” He emphasized that the station’s current condition is incongruent with the revenue it generates for the Railway Authorities.
Akum further asserted that, if upgraded and made operational, Tuli Railway Station could serve seven districts in Nagaland.
He informed that the BAN members have already met with the Village Council concerned and landowners, who have “agreed to fully cooperate and give protection to the workers (from any other elements).”
Surprisingly, despite the substantial revenue influx, Tuli Railway Station currently lacks any Railway staff. “After giving so much revenue, nothing is happening there,” he said.
Akum further informed that one man named Putumeren, son of the land donor, “is taking care of the station to ensure that the goods trains are coming and we are getting our revenue.”
Akum Jamir also drew attention to the significance of Tuli Station in the context of railway connectivity for Nagas, asserting that while Dimapur railway is crucial for the country, Tuli holds the “real meaning of railway connectivity for the Nagas.”
The BAN report indicates that Tuli Railway Station commenced operations in the early 1990s, coming to a halt in 2000. A passenger train trial run from Tuli to Mariani in Assam started in 2007 but was deemed unfeasible, leading to its discontinuation due to minimal passenger traffic.