13 Trains from (CNE)CHANDRANATHPUR to (MGE)MIGRENDISA

Expansion of Rail connectivity in Northeast has been the topmost priority of the present Central Government. Acting o­n the agenda, Northeast Frontier Railway has undertaken various state capitals and International connectivity new line projects under its jurisdiction. These new lines will provide basic infrastructure support for industrial development having large socio-economic ramification. It will provide a direct broad gauge route to the state capitals which may boost the economic development of the regions.

There are various new lines and doubling projects which are currently under implementation. Jiribam-Imphal new line project in Manipur is of 110.63 km in length and till now 56.1 km has been commissioned. Remaining 54.53 km is targeted to be commissioned by December, 2023.Dimapur-Kohima new line project in Nagaland is of 82.5 km in length and till now 16.5 km has been commissioned. Remaining 66 km is targeted to be commissioned by March, 2026.Tetelia-Byrnihat new line project in Meghalaya is of 21.5 km in length and till now 10.15 km has been commissioned. Remaining 11.35 km is targeted to be commissioned by March, 2024.Further, Sivok-Rangpo (44.96 km) new line project in Sikkim, Bairabi-Sairang (51.38 km) new line project in Mizoram and Araria-Galgalia (110.75 km)new line project in Bihar are targeted to be commissioned by December, 2023.Murkongselek-Pasighat (26.15 km) new line project in Arunachal Pradesh is targeted to be commissioned by March, 2025. Moreover, doubling of New Bongaigaon-Kamakhya via Goalpara is of 176.2 km in length and till now 45.63 km has been commissioned. Remaining 130.57 km is targeted to be commissioned by February, 2023.Doubling of New Bongaigaon-Agthori via Rangia which is of 142.97 km in length is targeted to be commissioned by February, 2023.

In addition, there are various international rail connectivity projects under the jurisdiction of N. F.Railway. Agartala-Akhaura new line connecting Agartala with Bangladesh which is of 12.03 km in length and is targeted to be commissioned by December, 2022.Jogbani-Biratnagar (18.6 km) new line connecting Jogbani in Bihar with Nepal and Mahisasan-Zero Point (2.7 km) connecting Assam with Bangladesh is also targeted to be commissioned by March, 2023. Balurghat-Hili (29 km) new line connecting West Bengal with Bangladesh is targeted to be commissioned by March, 2024.

Apart from these, final location survey for a new line has also been sanctioned from Lanka to Chandranathpur. This line will act as an alternative to the Lumding- Badarpur hill section & also act as a double line. Further, survey for doubling in Tripura & South Assam are also being planned for execution in future. Also, a new cross border link between Kokrajhar (in Assam) & Gelephu (in Bhutan) has been sanctioned for preliminary survey.

These projects will provide enhanced connectivity to the people of the respective areas, help grow small scale industries in the area and boost tourism. NFR is committed to contribute relentlessly in the pursuit of enhancing railway infrastructure and connectivity in Northeast.

Indian Railways has taken an important initiative in field of innovation through participation of start-ups and other entities. Hon’ble Minister of Railways, Communications and Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, recently had launched an innovation policy - “StartUps for Railways” o­n 13^thJune, 2022 in Rail Bhavan, New Delhi. In line with Indian Railways initiatives towards innovative solution to acquire operational efficiency and safety, Shri Anshul Gupta, General Manager of Northeast Frontier Railway held a Press Conference at Guwahati o­n 15^thJune, 2022.

The General Manager informed that the policy aims to bring scale and efficiency in the field of operation, maintenance and infrastructure creation through participation of the very large and untapped startup ecosystem. Shri Anshul Gupta said that the integration of disruptive technology into Indian Railways have taken a firm shape in form of this initiative.

The General Manager said that through this platform startups youth will get a good opportunity to connect with Railways. Out of various problem statements received from different field offices/zones of Railways, 11 problem statements like rail fracture, headway reduction etc. have been taken up initially for this program. These will be presented before the startups to find innovative solutions. General Manager urged the startups to use this opportunity and ensured them of support from Indian Railways in form of 50 percent capital grant, assured market, scale and ecosystem.

Under this programme, innovator can get a grant up to Rs. 1.5 Crore o­n equal sharing basis with provision of milestone-wise payment. Complete process from floating of problem statement to development of prototype is o­nline with defined time line to make it transparent and objective. Trials of prototypes will be done in Railways. Enhanced funding will be provided to scale up deployment o­n successful performance of prototypes. Developed Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) will remain with innovator o­nly. Assured development order will be provided to innovator.

The General Manager said that the selection will be through open, transparent and fair process which will entail innovators uploading their concepts with necessary proof o­n a dedicated portal can be done at the Indian Railway Innovation Portal o­n web address www.innovation.indianrailways.gov.in. The portal will start accepting ideas from 21^st June, 2022.

Replying to various queries about restoration works in Dima Hasao, the General Manager stated that restoration in 46 out of 61 breaches have been completed and in 15 critical locations work is going o­n in full swing. He further stated that chances are there to resume train services upto New Haflong from Badarpur by 20^thJune. The General Manager thanked Indian Air Force, Railway employees, roadways service and private bus operators in rescuing the stranded passengers and sent back to their home safely. He also briefed the media about the status of the state capital connectivity projects and the international connectivity projects under Northeast Frontier Railway. The recently sanctioned final location survey for the Chandranathpur – Silchar new line project was also discussed by the General Manager. This project will provide an alternative route to the hill section and also act as a double line for connectivity to South Assam, Mizoram, Manipur and Tripura.