Meghalaya gets its 1st Electric Train

Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 17: Meghalaya got its first electric trains after the NF Railway has commissioned Dudhnoi – Mendipathar (22.823 Track Kilometre) single line section and Abhayapuri – Pancharatna (34.59 Track Kilometre) double line section on March 15, in an endeavor for complete electrification.

The Central Organization for Railway Electrification (CORE) has carried out the electrification works in these sections.

Mendipathar is the only railway station in the north-eastern state of Meghalaya which is in operation since 2014 after being inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India, Chief Public Relations Officer Sabyasachi De said.

After commissioning of electric traction, trains hauled by electric locomotive will now be able to operate directly from Mendipathar in Meghalaya which will increase the average speed.

More passenger and freight carrying trains will be able to operate through these sections with full sectional speeds. Punctuality will also increase in this section.

Parcel and freight carrying trains hauled by electric locomotives from other states will be able to reach Meghalaya directly.

Electrification will significantly improve the mobility of trains in Northeast India.

In addition to the reduction in pollution due to the shift from fossil fuel to electricity, the efficiency of the Railway system in the region will also improve.

This would facilitate seamless traffic and also save time of the trains moving to and from northeastern states apart from savings in precious foreign exchange.

Meghalaya Cave in East Jaintia Hills now 7th longest in India

Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 15: The 31st international cave expedition under the project ‘Caving in the Abode of the Clouds’ took place on February 6-24, in the Muallian area in East Jaintia Hills District.

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The team comprised cavers from the UK, Switzerland, and Ireland, as also members of the Association. The focus of this year’s expedition was on Krem Rynjang (Retdung Khur), Pynnoh Um Sngad and Ram Khur.

Krem Pynnoh Um Sngad was extended from last year’s length of 5,295 m to 7,831 m and further connected to Ram Khur, making the cave system (Pynnoh Um Sngad-Ram Khur system) with a length of 14,951 metres jump up to 7th place in India’s longest caves.

Many side passages remain including a massive relic passage (The Barren Lands) which is 50m wide and 29m high ongoing in a NE direction.

Krem Rynjang has been extended by a further 4,117m taking its length to 20, 445m making it to occupy the 5th position. Numerous side passages still remain to be explored.

The expedition this year was much harder and more technical as all the caves in the area are vertical with over 85m entrance shafts.

Further, as exploration gets deeper into the cave systems more than 3.5 hours are spent in reaching the last point of the survey from the entrance.

General Secretary of the Meghalaya Adventurers’ Association (MAA) Brian D Kharpran Daly said that overall, the 2023 expedition explored and mapped 6,635m of new cave passage.

To date (February 24, 2023) the whereabouts of just over 1,700 caves and cave locations are known in Meghalaya of which over 1100 have been explored or partially explored, he said.

Kharpran said, with this year’s expedition, the total cave passage explored and mapped in the state of Meghalaya has reached 537.6 km. with much more still waiting to be discovered. This solidifies Meghalaya as a top caving region in the world.

Much of the cave that has been explored and mapped in Meghalaya over the last 31 years consists of impressive river caves mixed with massive and often richly decorated relic passages along with magnificent clean-washed shafts that create cave systems equal in size and beauty to those found elsewhere in the world, maintaining Meghalaya’s status on the world-caving map as a significant caving region. Besides, these caves offer a rich diversity of cave life, he added.

Meanwhile, the MAA has expressed its sincere thanks to the Directorate of Sports & Youth Affairs, the Government of Meghalaya, and the Meghalayan Age Limited for their continued support, without which the documentation of the caves of Meghalaya would not have been a success.

MDA 2.0 backs Thomas Sangma as Speaker

Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 7: NPP leader and North Tura legislator Thomas A Sangma was today nominated as the candidate of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA-2) for the post of Speaker of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.

Thomas A Sangma has also filed his nominations before the Assembly’s Commissioner & Secretary Andrew Simons at the Assembly Secretariat for the upcoming Speaker’s election to be held on March 9.

“Wishing Sh. Thomas A Sangma, Speaker nominee of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly the very best,” Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma tweeted.

Speaking to reporters, Thomas lauded the decision of the MDA-2 government led by Conrad Sangma to nominate him for the coveted post. He also thanked the previous government for giving him the opportunity to serve the people.

The MDA-2 government has the support of 45 MLAs of which 26 are from NPP, 11 UDP, 2 BJP, 2 HSPDP, 2 PDF and 2 Independents.

The opposition bench on the other hand has a strength of 14 members which include 5 Congress, 5 All India Trinamool Congress and 4 Voice of the People Party.