A railway line construction in progress. The Northeast Frontier Railway is currently undertaking various state capitals and International connectivity new line projects under its jurisdiction, an official release informs on June 16. (Photo Courtesy: NFR CPRO)
Guwahati, June 16 (MExN): The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), while highlighting its various activities, maintained on June 16 that the expansion of rail connectivity in the region has been the topmost priority of the present Central Government.
Acting on the agenda, the NFR has undertaken various state capitals and International connectivity new line projects under its jurisdiction, stated a press release from its CPRO.
These new lines will provide basic infrastructure support for industrial development having large socio-economic ramification and also enable a direct broad gauge route to the state capitals which may boost the economic development of the regions, it said.
As per the release, 56.1 km of the 110.63 km Jiribam-Imphal new line project in Manipur has been commissioned and the remaining 54.53 km is targeted to be commissioned by December 2023.
With regard to the 82.5 km Dimapur-Kohima new line project in Nagaland, it informed that so far 16.5 km has been commissioned while the remaining (66 km) is targeted to be commissioned by March 2026.
In Meghalaya, the target for completion of 21.5 km Tetelia-Byrnihat new line project is March 2024 while 10.15 km has already been commissioned.
Further, Sivok-Rangpo (44.96 km) new line project in Sikkim, Bairabi-Sairang (51.38 km) new line project in Mizoram and Araria-Galgalia (110.75 km) new line project in Bihar are targeted to be commissioned by December, 2023, the release said.
The Murkongselek-Pasighat (26.15 km) new line project in Arunachal Pradesh is targeted to be commissioned by March 2025 while 45.63 km for doubling of the 176.2 km New Bongaigaon-Kamakhya via Goalpara has been commissioned and the remaining 130.57 km is targeted to be commissioned by February 2023, it said.
Doubling of New Bongaigaon-Agthori via Rangia (142.97 km) is targeted to be commissioned by February 2023, it added.
With regard to international rail connectivity projects under the NFR, the release said that 12.03 km Agartala-Akhaura new line connecting Agartala with Bangladesh is targeted to be commissioned by December 2022.
Jogbani-Biratnagar (18.6 km) new line connecting Jogbani in Bihar with Nepal and Mahisasan-Zero Point (2.7 km) connecting Assam with Bangladesh are also targeted to be commissioned by March, 2023, it informed.
The Balurghat-Hili (29 km) new line connecting West Bengal with Bangladesh is targeted to be commissioned by March 2024, it informed.
Besides, the final location survey for a new line has also been sanctioned from Lanka to Chandranathpur. This line will act as an alternative to the Lumding- Badarpur hill section & also act as a double line. Further, surveys for doubling in Tripura & South Assam are also being planned for execution in future, it added.
