HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Sept 1: Indian Railways is dedicated to reducing reliance on fossil fuels and aims to become the world’s largest ‘Green Railways’. As part of this mission, NF Railway has made significant progress in electrifying its tracks, covering 41.13% of its total network of 4348 route kilometres (RKM). This achievement is aligned with the railway’s goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions. The zone is on track to electrify its entire network by December 2023.
Within the north-eastern states, a total of 2975.23 km of tracks are slated for electrification. So far, 748.409 km in Assam and 9.58 km in Meghalaya have already been electrified, with Meghalaya witnessing the introduction of electric trains for the first time on March 15, 2023.
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To expedite electrification efforts, Indian Railway Construction International Limited (IRCON), Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES), NFR/Construction, and Central Organisation for Railway Electrification (CORE) are executing electrification projects across NFR’s divisions. Key sections include New Coochbehar – Golakganj – Dhubri (78 RKM) in Alipurduar division, Simaluguri – Dibrugarh (97 RKM) in Tinsukia division, Katakhal – Bhairabi (84 RKM) in Lumding division, Raninagar – Jalpaiguri – Haldibari (31 RKM) in Katihar division, and Helem – Harmuti – Naharlagun (79 RKM) in Rangiya division.
The electrification initiative will significantly enhance train mobility in NFR and bolster the rail network in the north-eastern states. Apart from reducing pollution, this transition from fossil fuels to electricity will enhance the financial performance of the railway. It will also ensure smoother traffic flow and elevate the average train speed, ultimately enhancing punctuality in train services.
