Kohima, May 22 : Zeliangrong Baudi (ZB), the apex traditional body of the Zeliangrong tribes, has appealed to Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad for diversion of Jiribam-Tupui Rail head to the earlier proposed Diphu-Karong via Jalukie under the Peren district of Nagaland.

In a letter to the Union Minister ZB President Dennis Elung and Press Secretary Kedi Haralu stated that the railhead from Diphu (Asom) to Karong (Manipur) via Jalukie was inaugurated on November 07, 1998 by the then Union Railway Minister Nitish Kumar, but unfortunately the railhead was diverted to Jiribam and Tupui.

They appealed to the Railway Minister to review and revive the actual plan as the project would not only benefit the people of Asom, Manipur and Nagaland, but also meet the needs of those living in the grassroots level, as it would pass through thickly tribal populated areas of three states.

The ZB also pointed out that the proposed railhead is also the shortest route to Manipur via Asom and Nagaland. It hoped that the project would be completed during the tenure of the present Railway Minister.

The Dimapur railway station is the only railhead of the both states of Nagaland and Manipur.

UNI