Pancharatna

N.F. Railway is progressing at full throttle for achieving the Indian Railways target of becoming Net Zero Carbon Emitter by 2030. In an endeavour for complete electrification, N.F. Railway has achieved another milestone by commissioning Dudhnai - Mendipathar (22.823 Track Kilometre) single line section and Abhayapuri – Pancharatna (34.59 Track Kilometre) double line section o­n 15^th March, 2023. The Central Organization for Railway Electrification (CORE) has carried out the electrification works in these sections.

 Mendipathar is the o­nly railway station in the north-eastern state of Meghalaya which is in operation since 2014 after being inaugurated by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India. After commissioning of electric traction, trains hauled by electric locomotive will now be able to operate directly from Mendipathar in Meghalaya which will increase the average speed. More passenger & freight carrying trains will be able to operate through these sections with full sectional speeds. Punctuality will also increase in this section. Parcel & freight carrying trains hauled by electric locomotives from other states will be able to reach Meghalaya directly.

Electrification will significantly improve the mobility of trains in Northeast India.  In addition to the reduction in pollution due to the shift from fossil fuel to electricity, the efficiency of the Railway system in the region will also improve. This would facilitate seamless traffic and also save time of the trains moving to and from northeastern states apart from savings in precious foreign exchange.

The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS)/NF circle has completed the statutory inspection of the newly laid double line between Dudhnai & Dhupdhara stations o­n 24^thNovember, 2022.This newly laid second line will be utilized for goods and passenger traffic with maximum speed of 100 km per hour.

The entire length of New Bongaigaon – Kamakhya via Goalpara doubling project is of 176 km. The stretch between Dudhnai to Dhupdhara is of 29.71 km. Speed trial at 122 km per hour was done by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS)/NF circle. Modern technologies like, robust track structure with use of all wide base Pre-Stressed Concrete (PSC) sleepers & Thick Web Switches which is new design of sturdier switches o­n pre-stressed concrete sleepers and can handle higher speeds were used for this double line territory.

 It is to be mentioned here that with the laying of double line, movement of trains can be done in both directions without stop-over crossings at stations which will increase the punctuality of trains. More trains can be run with enhanced speed.

 Earlier 26.43 km section between Abhaypuri to Pancharatna was commissioned o­n 28^th July, 2022. o­n completion of this entire section of New Bongaigaon – Kamakhya via Goalpara, the northeast connectivity will be boosted significantly.