Railway projects in NE progressing well despite challenges: Vaishnaw

Guwahati, Feb 3 (PTI) – Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Monday that ongoing railway projects in the North East are advancing at a commendable pace despite the challenging geographical terrain. Addressing a virtual press conference, Vaishnaw highlighted the government's commitment to enhancing railway infrastructure in the region, with round-the-clock work being undertaken for early project completion.

Vaishnaw also emphasized the significant budgetary allocation for Indian Railways, which has crossed ₹2.65 lakh crore for the second consecutive year. Since 2014, the North East has seen the construction of 1,824 km of new railway tracks, surpassing the total rail network of Sri Lanka. Additionally, 478 new flyovers and underpasses have been built in the region since the formation of the Narendra Modi-led government.

Further enhancing railway safety, 1,189 route kilometers under the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) have been earmarked for the implementation of ‘Kavach,’ a cutting-edge safety system.

The minister also outlined future plans for Indian Railways, including the introduction of 200 new Vande Bharat trains, 100 Amrit Bharat trains, and 50 Namo Bharat rapid rail services to ensure faster, safer, and more comfortable travel.

Major Developments in Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR)​

During the press conference, NFR General Manager Chetan Kumar Shrivastava and NFR GM (Construction) Arun Kumar Choudhary provided updates on upcoming projects. They revealed that:

• 92 railway stations within NFR’s jurisdiction will be modernized under the ‘Amrit Bharat Stations’ scheme.
• Full electrification of all railway tracks under NFR will be achieved by December 2025.
• Bhairabi–Sairang railway project in Mizoram is expected to be completed by July 2024.
• The budgetary allocation for railway infrastructure in the North East for 2025-26 stands at ₹10,440 crore, marking a fivefold increase from the average ₹2,122 crore allocated annually between 2009-2014.

This enhanced budgetary support aims to drive progress across multiple segments, including new line projects, doubling of tracks, track renewals, traffic facilities, road safety, bridge strengthening, signaling upgrades, and customer amenities.

The minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to transforming rail connectivity in the North East, ensuring seamless and modernized transportation for the region.