Maligaon, June 14 (MExN): The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has highlighted significant progress in railway infrastructure, connectivity, electrification and passenger services across the Northeast over the past 12 years, attributing the expansion to increased budgetary support and sustained development efforts.
According to a press release issued by NFR Chief Public Relations Officer Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, the average annual budget allocation for the zone has increased nearly five-fold, from Rs 2,122 crore during 2009–14 to Rs 11,486 crore for 2026–27.
The release stated that the metre gauge to broad gauge conversion programme in the Northeast has been completed. Railway electrification, which was minimal before 2014, now covers more than 95% of the network, with over 4,170 route kilometres electrified. NFR also informed that more than 2,000 kilometres of new railway tracks, including new lines and doubling projects, have been laid.
Rail connectivity has been extended to the capitals of Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura and Mizoram, while projects in Sikkim, Nagaland and Manipur are progressing.
Passenger amenities have also been upgraded through station redevelopment under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. The railway said modern train services, including Vande Bharat, Amrit Bharat and Vande Bharat Sleeper trains, have been introduced alongside improved station infrastructure, digital ticketing facilities, lifts and escalators.
Among the major infrastructure projects under implementation are a new rail-cum-road bridge alongside the Saraighat Bridge at Guwahati and a Wagon Periodic Overhauling Workshop at Basbari in Kokrajhar. NFR is also working on the Banarhat–Samtse and Kokrajhar–Gelephu rail links with Bhutan to strengthen cross-border trade and regional economic development.
The railway further stated that it has constructed more than 500 Road Over Bridges and Road Under Bridges and introduced AI-based elephant intrusion detection systems. Canopy bridges for hoolock gibbons have also been installed as part of environmental conservation initiatives.
NFR stated that the ongoing railway projects are expected to further improve connectivity and support socio-economic development across the Northeast.
