3 Trains from (SPTR)SILAPATHAR to (TBH)TATIBAHAR

N. F. Railway has been taking several initiatives to improve the freight transportation and provide better customer interface. Among such initiatives, few more stations have been opened for handling of both outward & inward goods during the month of September, 2022.

To improve customer interface and further augment freight transportation, Rangapani station under Katihar division has been opened for handling of iron & steel consignment for a period of two months w.e.f 01^st September, 2022. Earlier it was opened for handling of both outward & inward all goods traffic except coal, POL, livestock, explosive and crane consignment. New Bongaigaon station under Rangiya division has been opened for handling of imported coal w.e.f 02^nd September, 2022. Earlier it was opened for handling of both outward & inward of all goods traffic including outward coal & inward RPC consignment. Chariali station under Tinsukia division is opened for handling of Iron & Steel Consignment (Crane Consignment) w.e.f 27^thSeptember, 2022. Earlier it was opened for handling of both outward & inward goods traffic including outward coal except POL, livestock, explosive, crane consignment and inward coal.

Similarly, Tatibahar station under Rangiya division is opened for handling of inward FCI traffic o­nly w.e.f 23^rd September, 2022. Siliguri Jn. under Katihar division is opened for handling of inward coal consignment for Railway use (RMC) w.e.f 27^th September, 2022. Salbari station under Alipurduar division is opened for handling of inward coal traffic for a period of three months w.e.f 28^th September, 2022. Earlier it was opened for handling of both outward & inward goods traffic except coal, POL, livestock, explosive and crane consignment. Chongajan station under Lumding division is opened for handling of stone chips/boulder for a period of three months w.e.f 28^th September, 2022. Earlier it was opened for handling of both outward and inward RMC o­nly.

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.