NFR electrifies over 90% of tracks; new railway lines to expand 7,362 km network

Guwahati, Oct 15: The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has achieved a major milestone with over 90 per cent of its 7,362-track kilometre network now electrified, senior officials announced on Tuesday.

NFR General Manager Chetan Kumar Shrivastava shared the update during a meeting in Guwahati with Members of Parliament (MPs) representing constituencies under the Rangiya and Lumding divisions.

Shrivastava said that several new line projects are currently underway to further expand the network within NFR’s jurisdiction. “The Northeast Frontier Railway has made remarkable progress and is steadily moving towards achieving 100 per cent electrification,” he stated.

"Over 90 per cent of the network has already been electrified and prestigious trains such as the Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express and Naharlagun–New Delhi Express are now operating with end-to-end electric traction," the NFR General Manager said.

He also told that double-line railway work has been completed on key sections such as New Bongaigaon–Agthori, New Bongaigaon–Azara and Guwahati–Lumding, while doubling up to New Tinsukia has already been sanctioned.

In addition, a new bridge over the river Brahmaputra near the existing Saraighat Bridge and a third line between Kamakhya and Guwahati have been approved for construction.

The General Manager emphasised that the NFR operates one of the most complex rail networks in the country, passing through challenging hilly terrains, with the highest number of tunnels, bridges and the longest elephant corridors across the Indian Railways system.

Highlighting recent achievements, he said that Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram, has been connected to the railway network for the first time and freight train operations have commenced from Molvom railway station in Nagaland.

He added that the NFR is also adopting modern AI-based technologies to enhance infrastructure safety, passenger comfort and wildlife protection.

Shrivastava also informed that station upgradation under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme is in progress at 92 stations across NFR jurisdiction, including 60 stations in the Northeast region.

Haibargaon railway station in Assam has become the first Amrit station in the Northeast region, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Altogether 11 MPs from four Northeastern states -- Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Manipur -- were present at the meeting.

The Divisional Railway Manager of Rangiya, Anant Sadashiva, and Divisional Railway Manager of Lumding, Samir Lohani, along with senior railway officials of NFR Headquarters Maligaon, near Guwahati, were also present.

The meeting was co-ordinated by Anurag Agarwal, Deputy General Manager of NFR.

NFR's Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO), Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, said that the meeting aimed to apprise the Members of Parliament about the developmental works undertaken by the NFR and to encourage constructive feedback from public representatives for better service delivery.

The MPs actively participated in a productive interactive session with senior officials of NFR and the MPs also put forth valuable suggestions regarding the extension and improvement of railway connectivity, upgradation of stations and preservation of heritage railway assets, the CPRO added.

The General Manager acknowledged the suggestions and assured that they would be implemented to the extent feasible.

The NFR operates in the Northeastern states and in seven districts of West Bengal and five districts of Bihar.

IANS