LUMDING JN

Coaching Maintenance Depot, Silchar started way back in 1898 had completed its 125 years of functioning. This Depot is connected with the starting of train services in the Northeast since the British era. Because the Assam Bengal Railway route that reached Badarpur via Karimganj of the then Cachar district from the Sylhet district of pre-partitioned India and opened to traffic o­n December 4, 1896 was the true milestone in the history of communication for the NE region. It was the first time that a part of North-East was rail linked directly with rest of India. This route later further extended upto Lumding via Haflong popularly called the Badarpur – Lumding Hill section. This necessitated setting up of coaching depot for maintenance of coaches in the area.

Set up in 1898, it is first Coaching depot of the Northeast. So since 1898, the coaching depot of Silchar has been playing a very pivotal role for train operation during both pre and post partition era in entire northeast. Initially it started functioning as Metre Gauge coaching depot. Later o­n in the year 2015 it is converted to Broad Gauge coaching depot. It is o­ne of the oldest coaching maintenance depots in India built under Assam Bengal Railway.

Presently, this depot is o­ne of the three coach maintenance depots under Lumding division of N. F. Railway. It plays an important role for Assam - Mizoram and Assam - Manipur Railway connectivity.

The depot is presently having covered shed of 85m length x 18m width equipped with upgraded maintenance infrastructure having two maintenance bays and two examination pits. It plays a vital role in maintenance of all local and long-distance trains that operates from Silchar Railway Station. Coaching Maintenance Depots are primary responsible for maintenance of Rolling Stock; Passenger Carrying Vehicles and Other Coaching Vehicles like DEMU, EMU etc.

In a step towards Railways mission to eliminate Level Crossing gates and ensure safety of train operations, N. F. Railway has recently commissioned a new Road Over Bridge (ROB) in lieu of Level Crossing gate. Level Crossing gate No. ST - 45 adjacent to Lanka Railway station under Lumding division has been permanently close and a new ROB was opened in its lieu for public o­n 05^th January, 2023.

 The work for this ROB started way back o­n April, 2019 and it took almost 3 years and 6 months to get it completed o­n November, 2022. The construction of the ROB was completed at an estimated cost of Rs. 35 crores. This ROB constructed in lieu of the Level Crossing gate which had a Train Vehicle Units of approximately 5,45,895.

  This ROB, will provide smooth and trouble free movement to the public of both side of Lanka Railway station and areas adjacent to it in addition to enhancing the safety of train movement to a great extent.