10 Trains from (MYD)MANDERDISA to (PNGM)PANCHGRAM

Maligaon, 13^th July, 2022:

In view of landslides and water logging due to incessant rain and resultant breaches and track damages in more than 60 locations of Lumding - Badarpur hill section of the Lumding division, services of passenger and freight trains had to be cancelled from second week of May, 2022. Northeast Frontier Railway has put all its efforts in restoring the damaged section and re-starting the train services as early as possible by braving all odds. As a result of which, freight train services in the Lumding - Badarpur hill section resumed last night after a prolonged gap of almost two months.

The first freight train carrying sugar has left last night for Jirania station (near Agartala) from Daotuhaja station. Another freight train, loaded with steel coils has left from Manderdisa for Bhairabi station (in Mizoram). Several more freight trains carrying commodities like stone chips, rice, etc will also be operated in this section to fulfil the supply gap. N. F. Railway is also making arrangements to bring back the empty freight rakes that were stuck in different sections of the devastated hill section since last two months. This will help operation of more trains.

It may be mentioned here that both railways and roadways in the Dima Hasao district got damaged owing to incessant rain. As a result, the entire hill section remained cut off with rest of the country by rail connectivity for the last two months. Railways being the bulk transporter of essentials items including POL products for states like Tripura, Manipur, Mizoram and the entire Barak Valley areas of Assam; immediate filling up of shortages of essential and construction commodities are essential. Considering all these aspects, N. F. Railway has started running of freight carrying train with essential and non - essential commodities to make-good the shortage of day to day commodities for the people of affected areas. N. F. Railway is all set to resume the passenger train services as early as possible during the current month itself.

As part of Swachh Rail Mission and to empower women with opportunities of livelihood, N.F. Railway has taken a unique initiative wherein a number of Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) have been engaged to keep Railway stations clean in Hailakandi district of Assam. N.F. Railway and Hailakandi District Administration collaborated through signing a MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) as part of the initiative to provide better scope for employment and women empowerment.

SHGs like Nabonita SHG, Loknath SHG and Maa Manosha SHG have been engaged to maintain three stations of Hailakandi district namely Panchgram, Hailakandi and Lalabazar railway stations respectively through National Rural & Urban Livelihood Missions. This initiative will augment the employment scope to needy women of the locality.

It is also to mention here that involvement of women SHGs in adoption and cleaning stations will reduce the activities of anti-social elements. Moreover, cleanliness of stations with participation of local SHGs will also result community ownership of the stations. The initiative undertaken by N.F. Railway and Hailakandi District Administration has been a largely successful o­ne and the cleanliness of the stations have increased manifold due to the effort put in by the SHGs.