The Hilly state of India, Meghalaya finally gets a rail link. Meghalaya will now in the railway map of India.
A Railway engine has rolled on the soil of Meghalaya for the first time in the Dudhnai-Mendipathar new line project. The authorization for running high speed train will come once the Commissioner of Railway Safety clears it.
The Dudhnai - Mendipathar project to link the Garo Hills in Meghalaya with Assam and the rest of the country was first sanctioned in the Union Budget in 1992-93 as Dudhnai to Deepa which was subsequently changed from Dudhnai to Mendipathar on objection from local people and the final location survey of changed alignment from Dudhnai to Mendipathar was completed in 2007.
The alignment of Dudhnai-Mendipathar passes through Goalpara district of Assam from existing Dudhnai station on New Bongaigaon-Goalpara-Kamakhya route of Rangia Division to Mendipathar in East Garo Hills district (and now North Garo Hills district) in Meghalaya. Out of 19.75 Km, 9.75 Km fall in Assam and 10 Km in Meghalaya. The alignment has 53 minor bridges, three major bridges.
According to an official statement although the work commenced in November 2008 progress remained slow due to delay in land acquisition both in Meghalaya and Assam and deteriorated law and order situation in the area.
Handing over of land in Meghalaya started in October 2010. In Assam out of 57.725 Hectares land, handing over started in November 2009.