Photo Courtesy: NFR
Maligaon, April 18 (MExN): The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has recorded significant growth in cement transportation and handling during the financial year 2025–26, reflecting improved freight operations and expanding rail connectivity in the Northeast.
According to NFR, inward cement traffic rose by 7.8 per cent, increasing from 9.05 million tonnes in 2024–25 to 9.76 million tonnes in 2025–26. Cement loading also registered a sharp increase of 152.7 per cent during the same period.
Officials said the growth highlights efforts to improve freight efficiency and support infrastructure development across the region.
Among key milestones, NFR successfully unloaded the first-ever cement rake at Sairang Railway Station on September 14, 2025. The rake, loaded from Star Cement siding near Guwahati, was the first freight train to run on the newly constructed Bairabi–Sairang rail route, marking a major step in enhancing connectivity.
In Nagaland, the first cement rake was unloaded at Molvom Railway Station on September 24, 2025. The rake comprised 41 wagons carrying cement from M/s My Home Industries Pvt Ltd, Telangana.
The zone also achieved another operational milestone by placing its first goods train with an electric locomotive at the Star Cement siding in Tetelia on March 11, 2025. The siding had handled 50 rakes in February 2025 alone, indicating increased freight activity.
Further, the first goods train carrying cement was placed at Nischintapur terminal near Agartala on March 24, 2025. The consignment, originating from the Star Cement siding at Tetelia, marked a key development under the Agartala–Akhaura new rail link project, aimed at strengthening freight connectivity in Tripura and the Northeast.
NFR said the developments are part of its ongoing efforts to enhance logistics capacity and facilitate movement of bulk commodities across the region.
