GUWAHATI: Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) is working to restore normal train operations through the New Harangajao section, bringing an end to more than a month of disruption that has affected passengers travelling between Guwahati and Silchar, Agartala, Sairang, Dullabcherra and several other destinations.
ALSO READ: Guwahati App-Based Cab Drivers Temporarily Call Off Protest After Transport Dept Issues Notices to Aggregators
The disruption began around July 20, when continuous settlement and lateral shifting of the railway formation was noticed at the New Harangajao yard. According to NFR, the problem was caused by a shift in the natural watercourse and changes in the local drainage pattern, resulting in heavy and concentrated inflow of water from the upstream hillside.
This led to deep sub-surface water accumulation beneath the tracks, affecting the stability of the railway formation.
As a precautionary measure to ensure passenger safety, train movement through the affected section was restricted to Line No. 3, while Line Nos. 1 and 2 were taken up for restoration work.
To expedite the restoration, NFR deployed around 500 personnel working round the clock, along with 22 PC excavators, 12 earthmovers, 18 heavy vehicles and specialised machinery, including pneumatic drills and hydraulic piling rigs.
The restoration work has focused on strengthening the affected section, managing drainage, dewatering the site and stabilising the railway formation to enable the resumption of normal train operations.
According to NFR, Line No. 2 is expected to be restored by September 5. Its restoration will allow more trains to operate through the affected section. Line No. 1 is expected to be restored by the end of September, after which train operations through the Lumding-Badarpur Hill Section are expected to return to normal.
The disruption has resulted in repeated cancellations, rescheduling and regulation of trains as NFR adjusted services to operate with the restricted line capacity.
Among the trains affected were the 15617/15618 Guwahati-Dullabcherra Express and the 15615/15616 Guwahati-Silchar Express, which saw frequent cancellations through late August and early September.
Several other services were rescheduled to depart later than usual to accommodate the restricted line capacity. These included the 15650 Narangi-Agartala Express, which was rescheduled to depart Narangi at 18:30 hrs.
A number of Silchar-originating trains, including the 15628 Silchar-Coimbatore Express, 15641 Silchar-New Tinsukia Express, 14037 Silchar-New Delhi Poorvottar Sampark Kranti Express and 15646 Silchar-Charlapalli Express, were rescheduled to depart Silchar around 22:10 hrs.
The 01666 Agartala-Rani Kamalapati Express and the 20501 Agartala-Anand Vihar Terminal Tejas Express were also rescheduled to later departure times from Agartala.
Long-distance trains passing through the region, including the 12501 Kolkata-Agartala Express and the 15625 Deoghar-Agartala Express, were regulated en route as required to accommodate the reduced line capacity.
NFR has expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to passengers and said passenger safety remained its highest priority throughout the restoration work.
With Line No. 2 expected to be restored by September 5, more trains will be able to operate through the affected section. The restoration of Line No. 1 by the end of September is expected to pave the way for the return of normal train operations through the Lumding-Badarpur Hill Section.