5 Trains from (CBZ)CHURAIBARI to (PTKD)PATHARKANDI

Mizoram, o­ne of the seven sister states of Northeast, is the southernmost landlocked state in the region sharing domestic borders with the states of Assam, Tripura and Manipur and international borders with Bangladesh and Myanmar. The Central Government has put in a lot of efforts for development of Mizoram in the past eight years. As part of the Central Government’s plan to connect capitals of all capital cities of the North-eastern states by broad gauge rail link, Northeast Frontier Railway is executing the 51.38 Km long new broad gauge railway lines Project from Bhairabi to Sairang at an anticipated cost of Rs. 6,527 crore to connect Aizawl (capital of Mizoram). This project has been accorded the status of “Project of national importance”. This Project includes construction of 04 new stations, 55 most important bridges, 87 small bridges, 11 Road Over Bridges/ Road Under Bridges, and 12.6 km of tunnel work.

The survey for two other BG Railway lines has also been completed in the state. A 43.15 km rail link between Patharkandi(Assam) to Kanhmun(Mizoram) will provide o­ne more entry to this state apart from the existing station of Bhairabi. The other completed survey for a new line between Sairang to Hmawngbuchhuah (266 km) has also been completed which will provide the strategic connectivity to the port over Kaladan river in Myanmar.

The already existing Silchar – Bhairabi meter gauge railway system was converted to broad gauge o­n 27^th May, 2016. The Katakhal – Bhairabi gauge conversion work was also completed at a cost of Rs. 509 crore. As part of the Ministry of railways policy for 100% electrification, all routes coming up in Mizoram will also be electrified.

After the completion of all the new line projects and infrastructural development work, connectivity to and within Mizoram will get a major boost. International connectivity between India and Myanmar will also gather a new momentum. The economy of the state will get the push required for its holistic development.

Apart from these new lines, other basic infrastructures have also been augmented in Mizoram. o­ne Foot Over Bridge was constructed at Bhairabi station during 2018-2019. Two Road Under Bridge constructed during 2017-2019 and Four Road Over Bridge during 2017-21 The railway system has also been made passenger friendly by providing toilets for Divyangjan and Platform shed at Bhairabi railway station. Free high-speed Wi-Fi services have been provided at Bhairabi station during 2019-20. As a part of NFR’s Go-Green mission Bhairabi railway station in Mizoram has been provided with 100% LED lights during 2017-18. 06 Shramik Special trains arrived in Mizoram with about 8000 stranded people from different places during the peak of COVID pandemic. 01 Shramik Special train also departed from Mizoram carrying stranded people. Bhairabi station was opened for all goods traffic both outward and inward. 125 freight trains arrived in Mizoram out of which 110 with essential commodities during 2014-22.

Better rail connectivity will lead to economic development not o­nly of the people of the Mizoram but also for the entire NE region.

NFR has been attempting to focus o­n infrastructural development of the existing railway transportation system and to boost tourism and improve connectivity in Tripura. Tripura is o­ne ofthe fastest growing state of North-East India is encircled by Bangladesh in the north, south and west and the States of Assam and Mizoram in the east. Railways being the main life-line of Indian economy, railway infrastructure are significant for the landlocked State of Tripura.

Tripura has seen major development works in Railway sector from 2014-22. The entire Railway network in Tripura has been converted to a broad gauge network in 2014-22 thereby eliminating all metre gauge railway lines in Tripura. To enhance connectivity, various sections like Agartala - Udaipur, Udaipur - Garjee, Garjee - Santirbazar, Belonia - Sabroom got connected by broad gauge line in Tripura. During the period from 2014-22, 115 km of new broad gauge lines commissioned in Tripura. Tripura's capital Agartala has reserved a place o­n India's broad gauge map with the much awaited starting off of Agartala - Anand Vihar Tripura Sundari Express o­n 31^stJuly 2016. First Rajdhani Express in Indian Railways with Tejas type AC sleeper coaches with latest amenities were introduced from Agartala o­n 15^th February 2021. It has already completed it’s o­ne year of successful running. Trains to Secunderabad and Bangalore from Agartala also introduced. o­n 8th January, 2022, the first train connecting Tripura and Manipur, the Janshatabdi express train between Agartala - Jiribam via Assam was flagged off.

Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has came to Tripura's rescue with the Roll o­n - Roll Off service to carry laden trucks loaded with fuel o­n flat-wagon goods train. When severe landslides had cut off road connectivity to Tripura in the month of July - August, 2016, shortage of fuel supply by road caused severe crisis in the state. Railways stepped in to run the first ever such train left from Bhanga (Assam) to Churaibari in Tripura. The road connecting Tripura with Assam has been in a very bad shape, disrupting the flow of commodities to Tripura and leading to a severe crisis.This helped Tripura to overcome the problem of fuel shortage.

The New Railway line project (15 km) cost of Rs.968 crore between Agartala in Tripura and Akhaura in Bangladesh will be completed very soon. Surveys are going o­n for new BG lines of 2.9 km Belonia – Chittagong to connect with Bangladesh, 45 km Pencharthal to Dharmanagar via Kailashahar and 170 km Dharmanagar to Pencharthal, Belonia via Kamalpur - Khowai to Agartala. o­nce all these projects will be finished, the economy of the state will benefit immensely. The tourism sector will also get a big boost.

During the period 2014-22, NFR has provided several new amenities in stations and trains from Tripura. 05 Foot Over Bridges, 128 Bio -Toilets, 20 free Wi-Fi were provided at different stations over Tripura during 2014-22. Lifts and escalators are also being constructed to provide better amenities to passengers.High speed LHB coaches with modern amenities were introduced in 02 trains and 120 CCTV monitoring systems were provided at 12 stations during 2014-22 for enhanced security of Railway property and passengers. Mechanized coach cleaning, heavy duty scrubber machines, train cleaning by o­n Board House Keeping Staff (OBHS) are also part of the Swachhta initiative. As a part of NFR’s Go-Green mission all stations in Tripura have been provided with 100% LED lights during 2014-22. Different important infrastructural & long pending works were completed during lockdown and 35 Shramik Specials trains ran over Agartala which carried about 17 thousands of migrant workers to their native state, Tripura.