New railway links to Bhutan and Myanmar to boost connectivity in Northeast

India is enhancing its railway connections with neighbouring countries like Bhutan and Myanmar. The new rail lines will pass through Assam and Mizoram, connecting the Northeast region with Southeast Asia through trains.

The effort to increase border connections through railways is a key focus of New Delhi’s Act East Policy. Tripura already has rail links with Bangladesh, and these new connections to Bhutan and Myanmar will further boost the region’s connectivity.

Sabyasachi De, CPRO of Northeast Frontier Railway, informed that their main focus is on border areas, especially along the Indo-China border. They’re also working on connecting Myanmar through the Imphal-Moreh railway line. The Sairang-Hbichhuah railway line, which connects Mizoram to the Kaladan Multimodal Project, has been approved. Additionally, the Kokrajhar-Gelephu railway line connecting Bhutan is in progress. The Agartala-Akhaura railway project, linking India and Bangladesh, is nearing completion.

These cross-border projects aim to improve trade and connectivity with neighbouring countries. The Mahisasan railway station, which has been inactive since 1966, could play a crucial role in developing the Northeastern region and enhancing trade and transit with Bangladesh.

The railway official noted that the Northeast will soon have its first international cross-border railway connectivity. The government has allocated a significant amount of funds, Rs. 1.20 lakh crore, to develop railway infrastructure in hilly and border areas of the region.

In addition to Bhutan and Myanmar connections, the Northeast is also focusing on connecting its state capitals, such as Sikkim, Mizoram, Manipur, and Nagaland. Several projects are underway, including extending railway lines to previously unconnected areas.

Efforts are also underway to improve train stations in the Northeast. The government’s Amrit Bharat Station Scheme is working on this. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi started the work on 508 train stations across the country. In the Northeast, 56 stations and 32 stations in Assam are part of this project. More than Rs 1200 crore, is being invested in this.

New Jalpaiguri, a main entry point to the Northeast, is getting a makeover. This project will cost about Rs 300-350 crore. Dimapur station, one of the largest in the Northeast, is also being improved. This will cost Rs 230 crore.
There’s a plan to turn Guwahati railway station into a world-class station. About Rs 230-240 crore is being invested in New Guwahati to build a Mega Coaching Complex.

The electrification of railway sections is nearly complete, with most of the North East expected to be electrified within this financial year. More than Rs 1 lakh crore have been invested currently in this financial year for completion of projects.

Wildlife protection is also a priority, with the Northeast Frontier Railway introducing measures like an Intrusion Detection System to safeguard wildlife, particularly elephant corridors.

There are many elephant corridors and the Northeast Frontier Railway has covered the ideas in the Lumding-Hawaipur section in Assam and the Chalsa-Hasimara section in West Bengal. A sanction of Rs 77 crore is provided to cover all the elephant corridors in the North Eastern region

The railway development in the Northeast region is set to make significant progress in the coming years, improving connectivity, trade, and overall infrastructure.

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