6 Trains from (GMTO)GUMTO to (BVU)Balipara

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.

Seventeen railway staff namely Shri Rupjyoti Saikia, Driver under Rangiya Division, Shri Ganga Charan Meena, Asst Driver under Rangiya Division, Shri Ramprabesh Singh, Technician - II under Alipurduar Division, Shri Gautam Bhowmick, Helper under Alipurduar Division, Shri Shiv Sankar Roy, Gateman under Katihar Division, Shri Soma Oraon, Track Maintainer, Shri Dhananjay Kr. Singh, Track Maintainer Shri Hari Shankar Sah, Track Maintainer, Shri Ajit Minz, Technician - II, Shri Bisham Prasad, Technician –III / New Jalpaiguri, Shri Ranjeet Kr. Rajak, Track Maintainer Shri Garib Singh, Track Maintainer, Shri Baleswar Sahani, Track Maintainer, Shri Akshay Saha, Track Maintainer, Shri Baban Rajbhar, Track Maintainer, Shri Santosh Kumar, Track Maintainer,  Shri Brajbhushan Kumar Track Maintainer were awarded by Shri Sanjive Roy, General Manager, N.F. Railway for showing exceptional devotion towards duty.

On 23^rd January, Shri Rupjyoti Saikia, Driver and Shri Ganga Charan Meena Asst. Driver while working by 12088 Up, noticed 01 No. Hydraulic Dumper of Loco was in hanging condition and touching with loco wheel No.1 at KM 140/7 between Balipara (BVU) – Dhalaibil (DQL) stations which was unsafe to run train. They immediately stopped the train and removed the Hydraulic Dumper. Due to their alertness a probable mishap could be averted.

On 11th January, Shri Ramprabesh Singh, Technician-II and Shri Gautam Bhowmick, Helper/ New Coochbehar while performing Rolling In examination duty, detected rear trolley RHS secondary outer spring coil broken of coach No - 163011 NR/LWACCN of 12423 Dn (Rajdhani Exp) which was unsafe to run. Due to their alertness a probable mishap was averted.

On 30^th January, Shri Shiv Sankar Roy, Gateman while performing duty at LC gate No-NC/43 at Magurjan, detected “smoke coming out from Axle Box of wagon No-40089061974 WR/BTPN of train Dn BPCM BTPNL. He immediately informed Station Master / Magurjan. Accordingly, the train was controlled and detached at Magurjan. Due to his alertness a probable mishap was averted.

Fourteen other staff, mostly track maintainers was also awarded for detecting “rail fracture” in various locations leading to avoidance of probable mishaps.