Guwahati, August 17: The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has made substantial strides in safety, modernization, passenger connectivity, freight transport, and green energy in 2026. NFR’s General Manager, Chetan Kumar Srivastava, emphasized that the railway’s top priority is ensuring passenger and operational safety under the principle of “100 percent safety, zero risk.”
Speaking at an event held at the NFR headquarters in Maligaon, near Guwahati, Srivastava noted that safety measures have been enhanced through modern signaling systems and advanced technologies. Improvements have also been made in monitoring trains, tracks, and critical railway infrastructure.
He highlighted the focus on eliminating level crossing gates and constructing new foot over bridges to enhance the safety of passengers and railway operations.
According to the General Manager, over 130 electric locomotives have been upgraded with the Kavach system. Additionally, 30 hot box detectors and three automatic train examination systems have been installed across the zone. These technical measures aim to strengthen safety protocols and ensure more effective monitoring of railway operations.
Srivastava stated that 2026 has seen a significant boost in passenger connectivity. During this period, 14 pairs of new train services, including Vande Bharat Sleeper, Amrit Bharat, and other mail/express trains, have been launched.
To meet the increased demand from passengers, 674 special train trips have been operated at various peak times.
He mentioned that the launch of India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper Express from Kamakhya and the first MEMU service between Agartala in Tripura and Karimganj in southern Assam mark significant achievements towards modern, fast, and improved rail connectivity in the Northeast.
NFR has also recorded impressive growth in business and freight performance. Between April and July, NFR’s apportioned revenue reached ₹2,744 crores, reflecting an 8 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
During this timeframe, revenue from ticket inspections saw a remarkable 37 percent rise.
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway’s revenue also surpassed ₹18 crores, marking the highest figure for this period to date. According to NFR, this reflects the continued popularity of the heritage railway among tourists and passengers.
To strengthen freight infrastructure, seven new freight terminals and two Gati Shakti cargo terminals at Habibpur and Baihata have been inaugurated. These facilities are expected to enhance cargo handling capacity and facilitate faster and more efficient movement of goods.
In July, the first container train from India reached Nepal, marking a significant achievement in cross-border freight transport. This has also strengthened regional trade and rail connectivity.
Additionally, the rail link between Jogighopa railway station yard and the Jogighopa multi-modal logistics park has been completed. This development paves the way for connecting railway connectivity to the logistics hub and strengthening the region’s multi-modal transport network.
NFR has also placed special emphasis on infrastructure development, electrification, and environmental sustainability. From January to July, the zone established a peak solar energy capacity of 23.7 megawatts, the highest among all Indian Railways zones.
This initiative is expected to reduce reliance on traditional energy sources and make railway operations cleaner and more sustainable.
During this period, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated four redeveloped Amrit stations—Kamakhyaguri, Majbat, Jalpaiguri Road, and Haldibari—providing modern infrastructure and improved facilities for passengers.
Srivastava praised the efforts of the NFR team in restoring railway tracks in flood-affected Simaluguri in just 17 days. Over 700 railway employees worked day and night to restore critical rail infrastructure and resume train services.
Restoration work is also ongoing in New Harangajao, where rail infrastructure has been affected by adverse weather and challenging geographical conditions. Maintaining rail connectivity in the hilly and difficult terrains of the Northeast remains a significant challenge for NFR.
Srivastava acknowledged the contributions of the Railway Protection Force (RPF), Bharat Scouts and Guides, athletes, railway staff, and other stakeholders. He affirmed NFR’s commitment to providing safe, modern, efficient, and sustainable rail transport.
He added that NFR’s initiatives related to safety, connectivity, infrastructure development, freight transport, electrification, and sustainability align with the national vision of “Developed India 2047.”
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