TAWANG, Nov 8: The Centre’s bid to link the strategic border town of Tawang, located at an altitude of about 10,000 feet, with the railway is getting closer as the region witnessed a momentous ‘lead’ in this connection with the laying of the foundation stone of Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR) camp office cum rest house here today.
NFR General Manager (Construction), N K Prasad laid the foundation stone in presence of Choiki Dondup, EAC (LM & Jud) Tawang, M S Chauhan, NFR Chief Administrative Officer (Construction), S P Singh, NFR Chief Engineer (Construction) and executive members of Shartso Committee (land owners).
Speaking on the occasion, the senior Railways officers stated that we are very soon going to connect Tawang with railways. The railway line from Bhalukpong to Tawang will be 198 kilometres, out of which 177 kilometres will be under tunnels with very little disturbance to the ecology, they informed.
The proposed railway tunnel crossing Dzela pass will be 27 kilometres, which is going to be one of the longest tunnels in the country. Whereas the road distance from Tawang to Bhalukpong is around 300 kilometres, the senior Railways officers added.
In his address, the EAC said that it was a distant dream for us to have Tawang connected with railways, but now the dreams are going to be translated into reality. Dondup while congratulating the senior Railways officers also expressed his gratitude to the land owners for leasing out the land, initially for a period of three years for the purpose of the NFR camp office cum rest house, which can be extended if needed In future. (DIPRO)