North East India Welfare Association Chennai (NEIWAC) president and Naga Christian Fellowship Chennai (NCF Chennai) pastor Wapangtoshi has sought Tamil Nadu governor RN Ravi’s intervention in restoring train service between Chennai and Dimapur. In a letter submitted on Friday, Wapangtoshi urged Ravi to intervene in reaching out to the Railway Ministry to restore the Chennai region origin train service with a stop at Dimapur station.
NEIWAC president said, before the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a direct train service from Chennai that had a stop at Dimapur railway station, benefiting a significant number of people from the Northeast, particularly those from Nagaland, Manipur, and some parts of Assam, living in and around Chennai.
However, the discontinuation of the train service has caused immense difficulties, adding that current travel options were either extremely time-consuming or involved a considerable increase in travel expenses.
He stressed that the reinstatement of the service would not only benefit the North-eastern community, but also strengthen the bond between the people of Tamil Nadu and Northeast, contributing to a more inclusive and harmonious society.