Guwahati: In a significant achievement for the Indian Railways, the electrification of the railway track from Assam’s Lumding to Sabroom in Tripura is set to be completed before August 2024.
According to reports, the electrification has been completed along 165 km of the 265 km track from Dharmanagar to Sabroom via Agartala, with the remaining 100 km slated for to be accomplished by August this year.
About 85 per cent of the electrification work from Lumding to Badarpur, a 172 km stretch, has been completed, Chief Public Relations Officer of NFR Sabyasachi De told PTI.
“Overall 65 per cent of the tracks that fall under the NFR have been brought under electrification to boost the railway network in the northeast. In Assam, 55 per cent of the total railway tracks have been covered with ongoing electrification drive,” De said.
According to De, once the electrification is completed, trains such as Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat could be introduced.
The Indian Railways is taking several steps to speed up the process but the work has been hampered by the recent incessant rain in the region.
De emphasised NFR’s intention to gradually phase out diesel-operated trains, highlighting the advantages of transitioning to electric trains, which will notably reduce diesel expenses.
“Running electric trains is more profitable compared to diesel engines. The new system will be cost-effective as well as beneficial for the NFR. The carbon emission will also be scaled down once trains start running on electric,” he said.