5km Monorail in Aizawl, Mizoram
Headway in Aizawl mono rail project
Silchar, Feb. 7:
The proposal of the Congress-ruled Mizoram government to build a 5km mono rail network across the hill capital town of Aizawl to ease traffic has made considerable headway.
The state government has now asked the RITES, Rail India Technical & Economic Services Limited, an engineering and consultancy subsidiary of the Indian Railways, with its headquarters in Lucknow, to prepare a technical as well as economic feasibility report of this mono rail system in Aizawl town.
Minister for urban development and sports Zodintluanga told The Telegraph that the entire project would be funded by the Centre. He, however, could not give an estimate for the scheme. The cost structure could only be known once the feasibility report is prepared, he added.
The minister said once the report is completed by the RITES by early next year, it would be placed before the Centre for the phase-wise grant of funds.
Zodintluanga said the proposed mono rail network inside Aizawl would run in a phased manner from Zemabawk in the town’s northern end to Kulikawn locality in the south, a distance of about 5km.
The overcrowded Aizawl town is now chock-a-block with cars and so the traffic moves at a snail’s space there, causing much discomfort to the people. According to an official report, Aizawl town alone at present boasts about 30,000 cars.
Zodintluanga said the masterplan for the beautification, which includes laying of more new roads in the capital town of Aizawl, has been drawn. He said the thrust of first masterplan of Aizawl town will be to lay more roads on its western side between Sairong in the northwest and Melbawk in the south to divert traffic meant for Lunglei town in the south and Champai town in the west.
The minister said more roads in Aizawl would help ease traffic in the town.