SHILLONG: Union minister of state for railways Rajen Gahain on Monday said the ministry of railways will not scrap the Byrnihat railway project in the state which is facing stiff opposition from a conglomeration of NGOs and student unions."We will not scrap this project," said Gohain on the sidelines of a function here.Replying to a query, the minister of state for railways said, "We are trying to convince the people of Meghalaya that this project will benefit them."Reiterating that the project will help in developing tourism infrastructure in the state, the minister said, "Without government and public support, the railways cannot reach Meghalaya. If people obstruct the work of railways, then it will not be possible to bring railways to Shillong," the minister said."The Meghalaya government should take interest as this is a local problem and it is up to the state government to deal with it," he said.Several Khasi Students' Union (KSU) leaders have been arrested in connection with the vandalization of the railway construction site and random cases of arson in Ri-bhoi district.Banned Khasi outfit Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has also come out in support of KSU by stating that it would provide IEDs to the students' union to blow up railway lines if the government goes ahead with the railway project, prompting chief minister Mukul Sangma to order a probe into the alleged nexus between the two.

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