Nod to passenger trains in Lumding-Silchar section

Silchar: The Railway Board has given its go-ahead to run passenger trains on the 210-km Lumding-Silchar section, in response to Northeast Frontier Railway’s (NFR’s) communication. However, no timeframe has been mentioned in the letter to run the trains.
Railway Board’s executive director, civil engineering (G), Alok Kumar, in a letter, the copy of which is with TOI, sent to NF Railway general manager Ranjit Singh Virdi last week, said they have sanctioned the running of passenger trains with reference to CRS/ NF Circle’s inspection reports on request of the NF Railways.
Under this, the nod for opening of new lines has been received for Patharkhola-Mandardisa Bypass line (9 km) and between New Haflong and Silchar stations (100 km) in connection with Lumding-Silchar gauge conversion project for public carriage of passengers on Lumding division of NF Railway. These portions are considered as critical for running of passenger trains in this section. The Lumding-Silchar broad gauge section was commissioned on March 31 this year following a six-month-long mega block with regular running of freight trains. Commissioner railway safety’s (CRS) inspection report was awaited for chugging of passenger trains in this section.