Dimapur: Construction has started on Portal 1 of Tunnel no. 7 of the Dimapur-Kohima New Rail line project in Tsiepama village of Dimapur district in Nagaland. Notably, the tunnel will be the longest tunnel in the Dimapur-Kohima New Rail Line Project. 

The length of this tunnel is 6,610 meters and a 12 km long approach road was constructed through the hills to reach portal 1 of tunnel no. 7 in Tsiepama village. The tunnel is located between the Pherima and Piphema stations of the project. 

The 82.50 km long (2.75 km in Assam and 79.75 km in Nagaland) Dimapur-Kohima railway project which takes off from the Dhansiri station of Assam to Zubza adjacent to Kohima is being constructed at an anticipated cost of Rs. 6,663 crores. The project has 8 new stations - Dhansiri, Dhansiripar, Shokhuvi, Molvom, Pherima, Piphema, Menguzuma and Zubza.

"The project includes 27 major bridges, 148 minor bridges, 5 road over bridges, 15 road under bridges, and 21 tunnels of 31 km length", an official informed. The 16.5 km section from Dhansiri to Shokhuvi was commissioned in October 2021. Passenger train services from Shokhuvi to Naharlagun in Arunachal Pradesh and Mendipathar in Meghalaya have also been introduced.

The forthcoming rail connectivity project, upon its completion, will facilitate the transportation of essential commodities such as food grains, petroleum products, automobiles, and various infrastructure and construction materials to Nagaland at a significantly reduced cost, according to officials. The project will provide a cheap and reliable means of communication to the local population.

ALSO READ: Assam: Ginger from Golaghat exported to Dubai at Rs 95 per kilo