PM to launch key railway projects, train services for Assam

Maligaon, March 10 (MExN): The Northeast is witnessing a major railway transformation with a sharp rise in investment, expansion of rail infrastructure and introduction of modern train services, officials said on Tuesday.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, railway connectivity in Assam and the Northeast has gained momentum, with the average annual railway budget allocation increasing from about Rs 2,122 crore during 2009–14 to Rs 11,486 crore in 2026–27, nearly a fivefold rise.

According to officials of Indian Railways, projects worth over Rs 72,468 crore are currently under various stages of implementation across the region, including new railway lines, station modernisation and safety initiatives.

To improve passenger amenities, 60 railway stations in Assam and the Northeast are being redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme with an estimated investment of about Rs 2,101 crore. Among them, redevelopment of Haibargaon station has already been completed.

Railway network expansion has also accelerated, with nearly 1,900 km of new railway lines constructed in the region since 2014. Railway electrification has seen significant progress, with Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura and Mizoram achieving 100 per cent electrification, while Assam is close to completing the process.

To improve safety, 502 rail flyovers and underpasses have been constructed, reducing issues related to level crossings. The indigenous Kavach Automatic Train Protection System is also being implemented in the region, with approval granted for 1,197 route km and work and tendering underway for 235 route km.

Modern train services such as the Vande Bharat Express, Vande Bharat Sleeper Express and Amrit Bharat Express have also been introduced to provide faster and more comfortable connectivity between the Northeast and the rest of the country.

In continuation of these initiatives, the prime minister will dedicate and launch several key railway projects and services for Assam. He will lay the foundation stone for the 194-km Furkating–Tinsukia doubling project, aimed at increasing train capacity and ensuring smoother movement of passenger and freight trains in Upper Assam.

The foundation stone will also be laid for a periodic overhaul (POH) workshop at Bashbari for maintenance and repair of railway coaches and wagons to improve operational efficiency.

Additionally, the electrification of the 558-km Rangiya–Murkongselek line, the 571-km Chaparmukh–Dibrugarh line, and the 315-km Badarpur–Silchar and Badarpur–Churaibari lines will be dedicated to the nation.

Three new train services—Kamakhya–Charlapalli Amrit Bharat Express, Guwahati–New Jalpaiguri Express and Narangi–Agartala Express—will also be flagged off to further strengthen connectivity, trade, tourism and social interaction in the region.