Northeast Frontier Railway Makes Progress in New Harangajao Station Restoration
Significant Advancements in Restoration Efforts
NFR stated that all essential manpower, machinery, and resources are being utilized to accelerate the restoration process, prioritizing passenger safety.
Guwahati, Sept 2: The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), based in Maligaon, announced on Tuesday that it has made notable progress in restoring operations at the New Harangajao Station, with expectations to restore Line No. 2 by September 5.
According to Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, the chief public relations officer of NFR, approximately 500 workers are on-site around the clock to hasten the restoration and ensure the prompt resumption of regular train services. To facilitate these extensive efforts, the deployment includes 22 PC excavators, 12 JCBs, 18 tractors, and specialized equipment such as pneumatic drills and hydraulic piling rigs.
Since July 20, the New Harangajao yard has been facing ongoing settlement and lateral shifts in the railway formation.
“To safeguard passenger safety, train operations have been limited to Line No. 3. This situation has arisen due to a shift in the natural watercourse and alterations in the local drainage system, leading to significant water inflow from the hillside. The water accumulation underground has caused substantial sub-surface water build-up, compromising the stability of the railway formation,” Sharma explained.
He further noted that NFR is implementing rigorous restoration and reinforcement strategies, including drainage management, dewatering, and stabilization of the affected areas, to restore the lines promptly while ensuring safe train operations.
Currently, trains are running on Line No. 3 with enhanced safety protocols. The anticipated restoration of Line No. 2 by September 5 is expected to enable NFR to increase train services through the impacted section, while Line No. 1 is projected to be restored by the end of September.
NFR emphasized that all necessary resources are being mobilized to expedite the restoration efforts, with a strong focus on passenger safety.
This restoration is expected to enhance train operations along the Lumding-Badarpur hill section, which has been under operational restrictions due to ground settlement issues at New Harangajao.