A review meeting was held on 14 November 2024 in Dibrugarh by Chetan Kumar Shrivastava, the General Manager of Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), to discuss railway development initiatives with Members of Parliament from the Tinsukia division jurisdiction. Among those in attendance were Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, Rajya Sabha MP from Assam Rameswar Teli, Lok Sabha MP from Assam Kamakhya Prasad Tasa, and Nagaland Lok Sabha MP S. Supongmeren Jamir, along with Divisional Railway Manager Uttam Prakash and senior NFR officials.
During the meeting, Shrivastava provided an update on recent railway achievements and projects, highlighting the operation of festival special trains, special services for candidates appearing in the ADRE Exam, and ongoing infrastructure upgrades across NFR. He discussed the recent implementation of QR code machines at ticket counters in 588 NFR stations to facilitate cashless transactions, aligning with the ‘Digital India’ vision. He also introduced the “One Station One Product” initiative, which has opened stalls at several NFR stations to showcase local products and crafts, aiming to boost regional socio-economic growth.
The General Manager further briefed the MPs on progress in key infrastructure projects, including electrification, track doubling, and the construction of new railway lines in the Northeast. The doubling project from Lumding to Dibrugarh via Simaluguri and Tinsukia is currently underway, alongside the redevelopment of New Tinsukia Railway Station under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS). Additionally, he informed the MPs about the new Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendras at railway stations, aimed at improving access to affordable medicines.
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A significant environmental initiative discussed was the installation of artificial canopy bridges in the Hollongapar Wildlife Sanctuary, allowing arboreal species to cross railway tracks safely. The General Manager also outlined measures for the safety of elephants crossing railway tracks, including an AI-based Intrusion Detection System (IDS) that identifies elephant movement near tracks and provides timely alerts to loco pilots and station masters.
To enhance railway safety, the General Manager urged MPs to support efforts in removing illegal encroachments, closing unauthorised crossings, and shutting down level crossing gates. These actions, he stated, are essential for the safety and success of various developmental works. The MPs’ suggestions and insights from the meeting will be considered in the formulation of future railway development plans to better serve the people of this region.
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