In a bid to enhance connectivity and improve services for the state the NF Railway has taken several measures including improving track and infrastructure, providing additional trains, and improving goods movement in the region.

In a bid to enhance connectivity and improve services for the state the NF Railway has taken several measures including improving track and infrastructure, providing additional trains, and improving goods movement in the region.

Towards this direction it has again decided to extend the services of train number 02518/02517 to Agartala. This train was so far running between Kolkata and Guwahati. Now the passengers could board this train at Guwahati in the evening and will reach Agartala the next morning. Further, the recently introduced Jan Shatabdi Express train’s service between Agartala to Jiribam in Manipur will be extended up to Khongsang in Manipur. With this the train will run over an additional 55 km. distance and it will be able to cover a distance of 300 km in six hours. This train will also have a new LHB rake with latest amenities and a Vistadome coach to promote tourism in this section, informed the Divisional Railway Manager J.S. Lakra today at a press meet at the Agartala rail station.

The DRM of NF Railways further informed that a survey for a second line between Lumding – Badarpur via Lanka- Chandranathpur has been sanctioned by the Railway Board and will be completed by March 2023. The work of electrification of the Lumding-Agartala line is expected to be completed by December, 2023. Survey for new line between Dharmanagar-Pecharthal up to Belonia via Kamalpur-Khowai[1]Agartala measuring 178.72 km has been completed. The Railways has also started a survey for upgrading the Agartala rail station with modern state of the art facilities.

Two escalators are being constructed here and these are expected to be completed next month. Two more escalators are coming up at Dharmanagar rail station. Expanding commercial opportunities the NF Railway has opened two modular stalls at Agartala rail station and very soon such modular stalls will be opened at Udaipur, Belonia, Sabroom, Ambassa, Kumarghat and Dharmanagar station. This is being done under the ‘One Station One Product’ scheme to showcase the indigenous products of Tripura. Local artisans have been requested to make maximum use of this opportunity. At the same time NF Railway has introduced e-auction schemes to delegate parking, pay and use toilet, advertisement space at the rail stations in Tripura for commercial use. In an effort to improve freight transport and logistics, works for additional goods terminals at Sekerkote and Agartala have been shortlisted and one additional goods line at Agartala is being processed. The NF Railways has also been coordinating with local traders for boosting trade by providing parcel train facilities for the transport of rubber, timber, pineapple, jackfruit and other indigenous products of the region. In the international connectivity sector the Agartala-Akhaura rail line is expected to be completed in the next four-five months.