9 Trains from (CMA)CINNAMARA to (SZR)SARUPATHAR

N. F. Railway has been taking several initiatives to improve the freight transportation and provide better customer interface. Among such initiatives, few more stations have been opened for handling of both outward & inward goods traffic during the month of July, 2022. Moreover, nine goods sheds have received offers for development under Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode during the month of July, 2022.

To improve customer interface and further augment freight transportation, Mohitnagar station under Katihar division has been opened for handling of both outward and inward goods traffic from 09^th July, 2022 except coal, POL, livestock, explosive & crane consignment. Moreover, Mohitnagar station has been developed as green field goods station under PPP mode.

        Further, Harmuti station under Rangiya division has been opened for handling of inward Steel Pipe Consignment (Crane consignment) o­n temporary basis for a period of six months from 27^thJuly, 2022. Earlier it was opened for handling of both outward and inward goods traffic from 22^nd July, 2014 except coal, POL, livestock, explosive & crane consignment.

Moreover, first Gati Shakti Multi-Modal Cargo Terminal (GCT) has been commissioned at Moinarbandh under Lumding Division o­n 29^th March, 2022. Another GCT at Cinnamara station under Tinsukia Division has also been commissioned.

N. F. Railway is planning to develop about 36 goods shed through PPP mode over five divisions in states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Nagaland, Sikkim apart from parts of Bihar and West Bengal within its jurisdiction. PPP model for goods shed over N. F. Railway is expected to increase its freight business.

As a result of the various initiatives record 1176 freight rakes have been unloaded at various freight terminals of NFR during July, 2022 as against 989 during the same month of last year. This is an improvement of about 18.90%.

                           The following additional proactive measures have been taken by the Indian Railways in wake of COVID-19:

1.To discourage unnecessary travel and to prevent the vulnerable category of Senior Citizens from undertaking unnecessary travels, concessional booking of all tickets except Patients, students and Divyangjan category for Unreserved & Reserved segment are being suspended form 00:00 hrs of 20th March till further advisory.

2.As a precautionary measure and to discourage nonessential travel and overcrowding of trains, so far total 155 pairs of low occupancy trains are cancelled up to 31.03.20. NFR has also cancelled 16 pairs of trains with low occupancy(less than 30%). Trains are cancelled keeping in view the availability of alternate trains for passengers and ensuring that no passenger shall remain stranded. Full refund is being given to all the passengers whose train has been cancelled.

3.Indian Railways has also facilitated return of students stranded in Northern part of country due to sudden closure of Educational Institutions to their homes in Southern, North-Eastern and Eastern regions of India.

4.Advisories are being issued to passengers to avoid non-essential train journeys and to ensure that they do not have running fever while they are commencing the journey. At any point of journey if passenger feels that he is having fever, he can contact the Railway Staff for medical attention and further assistance.

5.To avoid unnecessary crowding at Railway Stations in wake of spread of COVID 19, it has been decided to raise the price of Platform Ticket wherever necessary. In NFR platform ticket prices of the following stations have been changed Rs. 50/- viz. Guwahati, Kamakhya, Dimapur, Lumding, Silchar, Rangiya, New Bongaigaon, Barpeta Road, Tinsukia, New Tinsukia, Dibrugarh Town, Dibrugarh, Simaluguri Jn., Mariani Jn., Jorhat Town and all station under Katihar division. Simmilarly price of platform tickets increased to Rs. 30/- in Agartala, Badarpur Jn., Bokajan, Chaparmukh Jn., Dharmanagar, Diphu, Hojai, Jagiroad, Karimganj Jn., Lanka and Sarupathar stations.

6.Regular Announcement are being done o­n PA System of Railway Stations & Trains to sensitize the public about various Do’s & Don’ts highlighting :

a)Keeping hands clean by frequent washing of hands;

b)Maintain social distance & covering the mouth while sneezing and coughing;

c)Precautions to be taken if o­ne has running fever-(don’t travel and report immediately to the Doctor);

d)Not spitting anywhere in the public place and Railway premises and

e)Avoid overcrowding & to ensure distancing between passengers in trains including local passenger trains.