LAKHIMPUR

The General Manager of Northeast Frontier Railway Shri Anshul Gupta conducted a meeting with Hon’ble Members of Parliament covering the jurisdiction of Tinsukia division, at Tinsukia o­n 09^thSeptember, 2022. Altogether three MPs and two representative of MPs were present at the meeting which included Shri Rameswar Teli, Hon’ble Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas & Ministry of Labour and Employment, Hon’ble MP of Rajya Sabha Shri Kamakhya Prasad Tasa from Assam; Hon’ble MP of Lok Sabha Shri Pradan Baruah (Lakhimpur), Representative of Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Hon’ble Union Minster of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush and Representative of Hon’ble MP of Rajya Sabha Shri Ajit Kumar Bhuyan from Assam. The Divisional Railway Manager of Tinsukia, Shri Bijaya Kr. Mishra along with senior railway officials of N. F. Railway’s Headquarters was also present.

The General Manager of N. F. Railway while welcoming all MPs gave a brief overview of operations and infrastructure works going o­n under its territory. He also highlighted the achievement of the entire NFR. He further informed the Hon’ble MP’s regarding implementation of o­ne station o­ne product at various stations over NFR to help the local entrepreneur to showcase and sell the products and crafts of local area. MPs were briefed about the status of o­ngoing doubling and new line projects of Northeast. The doubling work from Lumding to Dibrugarh via Simaluguri and Tinsukia has been approved and work is in under process.

The General Manager mentioned that N. F. Railway has given emphasis o­n faster adoption of PM Gati Shakti in NE states for handling of both outward and inward traffic. He also highlighted about the cabinets proposal to revise the Railway’s land policy to implement PM Gati Shakti framework. He further said that more and more Kisan Rails are being operated to export the local produces outside the state. The General Manager also informed the Hon’ble members present about the Intrusion Detection System to be introduced within NFR to avert possibility of train-elephant collision.

Hon’ble MPs were requested to extend help in removing illegal encroachments, closure of unauthorised crossing, closure of level crossings, etc. to further improve safety and undertaking various development works. Items pertaining to the requirement of public under the Tinsukia division like new train services, better station facilities, etc were also discussed. Deliberations in this meeting would immensely help the Railways in finalizing the Railway developmental plans for the people of this region. The suggestions and views expressed by the Hon’ble Members would be given due considerations while formulating the proposals, said the GM.

Arunachal Pradesh, the land of the rising sun, is o­ne of the Northeastern seven sister states. This is o­ne of the most picturesque places in India. This state has the power to become a tourism hub. Working in this direction, Northeast Frontier Railway has done a tremendous amount of infrastructure development in this state. Itanagar, the capital city, became the second o­nly state capital among the eight north eastern states after Guwahati to be o­n the railway map when in 2018 the first Broad guage passenger train chugged into Naharlagun station.

Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has undertaken many other developmental and infrastructural initiatives in Arunachal Pradesh to boost tourism and improve connectivity during the period 2014-22. The Murkongselek - Pasighat new line (26.15 km), at a cost of Rs 661 crore, has been sanctioned for execution. Surveys for more new broad gauge lines are going o­n. Some  important surveys  like the Lekhapani to Deban via Nampong (75 km) ;  Dumduma to Wakro ( 96 km)  via Simulguri, Namsai and Chowkham; Dangri to Roing( 60 km) & Tinsukia ( Longpatia ) to Pasighat (300 km) via Kanubari, Deomali, Lekhapani, Jairampur, Kharsang, Miao, Diyu, Tezu, Bhismaknagar, Roing and Dambuk ; Dhalai Beel to Seijosa via Itakhola (18 km );  Naharkatia to Deomali  (20 km ); Misamari (Bhalukpong) to Tawang (198 km) via Tenga; North Lakhimpur to Bame via Silapathar  ( 87 km  ); Pasighat to Rupai via Tezu  (217.8 km) and  Lekhapani and Kharsang (26.2 km) are going o­n in full swing.Once completed, these new lines will spearhead the eventual socio-economic boom in the state.

Apart from these new lines survey, other basic Railway infrastructures have also been augmented in Arunachal Pradesh. New Coaching Maintenance Depot was set up and commissioned at Naharlagun in March, 2020. Mechanised cleaning of Naharlagun station started from 2018-19. Toilets for Divyangjan have been provided at Gumto, Naharlagun and Bhalukpong stations. Train Indication Board, Coach Indication Board and Integrated Passenger Information System are provided at these stations. Passenger Reservation System, Unreserved Ticketing System and Free high speed Wi-Fi are also provided at nominated stations of Arunachal Pradesh. Point of sale machines for cash-less transactions were installed in Naharlagun and Bhalukpong stations. As a part of NFR’s Go-Green mission Naharlagun, Bhalukpong and Gumto stations have been provided with 100% LED lights during 2017-18. o­ne 10 kwP solar power plant has also been installed in Naharlagun during 2018-19.

Naharlagun station was opened to both outward and inward goods traffic for ease of freight transportation. 55 freight trains arrived in Arunachal Pradesh with essential commodities and 39 parcel vans were loaded with various commodities for Arunachal Pradesh during 2021-22.