GUWAHATI: The North East Frontier Railway (N.F.R) is working towards achieving 100% electrification of un-electrified Broad Gauge routes within its zone, as of a press release on November 20.
This initiative aims to reduce dependency on fossil fuels, aligning with Indian Railways' mission to become the largest "GREEN RAILWAYS" globally. NFR has electrified 1956.63 Route Kilometres (RKM), marking 45.00% of the total 4348 RKM network.
The electrification drive is aimed towards achieving net zero carbon emissions, contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable rail network. In the Northeastern states, 2391.38 Km of routes are yet to be electrified, with progress already made in Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Bihar, and West Bengal.
Specifically, within the Northeastern region, 910.45 Km in Assam, 9.58 Km in Meghalaya, and 6.00 Km in Nagaland have been electrified, as per official reports. Additionally, 285.87 Km in Bihar and 744.726 Km in West Bengal have undergone electrification under the jurisdiction of N.F. Railway.
Recent inspections of three electrified sections in Assam, namely Badarpur-Silchar (29.60 RKM), Badarpur-Baraigram (41.77 RKM), and Baraigram-Dullabcherra (27.00 RKM), showcases the electrification. To expedite the electrification works, collaboration from Indian Railway Construction International Limited (IRCON), Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES), NFR/Construction, and Central Organisation for Railway Electrification (CORE) are underway in different sections across the zone.
The electrification initiative is poised to enhance train mobility and strengthen the rail network in the northeastern states. Beyond environmental benefits, the shift from fossil fuel to electricity is expected to improve the financial performance of the railway, ensuring seamless traffic and increasing the average speed of trains, thereby enhancing punctuality in train movement.