GUWAHATI, Apr 2 � Formally bringing Meghalaya into the Indian Railways� network, a train engine rolled on the soil of the hilly state for the first time on March 31.
The engine rolled on from Nolbari station and entered Meghalaya and reached Mendipathar station using the Dudhnai-Mendipathar new line project.
�Rolling of the engine was a departmental trial test run on the newly constructed broad-gauge (BG) line. After that, the Commissioner of Railway Safety will conduct a high speed trial run and will give authorization for train running.�
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. Out of the 19.75 km section, 9.75 km fall in Assam and 10 km in Meghalaya. The alignment has 53 minor bridges, three major bridges, seven RUBs and two station buildings.