Trans–Asian railway
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North Eastern Railway Connectivity Project is an multi phased railway connectivity project in Northeast India which comprises states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura and it also includes the state of Sikkim. These states come under Northeast Frontier Railway Zone of Indian Railways. This Railway project is considered as strategically important for India because it connects all the border states in this region and also close to ASEAN countries.
The Government of India has planned and projected to connect all capitals of North Eastern states by 2023. [1]
Northeast Region or popularly known as Seven Sister states are strategically important areas to counter China. These state are connected to India through very narrow area of Siliguri Corridor also named as Chicken's neck. After China's claims over Doklam area of Bhutan and India. It becomes important for India to boost connectivity in this region. [2] [3] During the Sino-Indian War and Nathu La and Cho La clashes came closure to border and build villages near border with Bhutan, India and Nepal. [4]
Under prosperous project by PM Narendra Modi PM Gati Shakti which was launched in 2021 with aim to boost connectivity across the country and to connect all the capitals of Indian state. [5] Especially this region is considered as Gateway to Southeast Asia. Thus strategic railway lines is important for this region. The region currently has 6,829 km of rail network mostly in the state of Assam.
Also to develop tourism in this region railways is major medium. [6] In 2023, various deluxe train started which will tour passenger with major locations like Kamakhya Temple, Guwahati,Kaziranga National Park in Assam, Unakoti in Tripura, Cherrapunji in Meghalaya, Dimapur in Nagaland etcetera locations. [7] [8]
Currently there are three capitals which are linked with railways, they are: Guwahati, Itanagar and Agartala. [9]
| Project | Location | States | Length (in Kilometre) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sivok–Rangpo line | From Sivok, Darjeeling district(WB) To Rangpo, Pakyong district(SK) | West Bengal and Sikkim | 44.96 | [10] |
| Bairabi–Sairang line | From Bairabi, Kolasib district | Mizoram | 51.38 | [11] [12] |
| Jiribam–Imphal line | From Jiribam, Jiribam district To Imphal, Imphal district | Manipur | 110.63 | [13] |
| Dhansiri–Zubza line | From Dhansiri(Dimapur), Dimapur district | Nagaland | 82.5 | [14] |
| Tetelia-Byrnihat line | From Tetelia(Guwahati), Kamrup district To Byrnihat, Ri-Bhoi district | Assam and Meghalaya | 22 | [15] |
| Project | Location | States | Length (in kilometre) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Byrnihat-Shillong line | From Byrnihat, Ri-Bhoi district | Meghalaya | 108 | [16] |
| Bhalukpong–Tenga–Tawang line | From Bhalukpong, West Kameng district | Arunachal Pradesh | 378 | [17] |
| North Lakhimpur–Bame–Silapathar line | From North Lakhimpur, Lakhimpur district(AS) Via Aalo and Bame, West Siang district(AR) To Silapathar, Dhemaji district(AS) | Assam and Arunachal Pradesh | 247.85 | [18] |
| Pasighat–Tezu–Rupai line | From Rupai, Tinsukia district(AS) Via Tezu, Lohit district(AR) To Pasighat, East Siang district(AR) | Assam and Arunachal Pradesh | 227 | [19] |
| Murkongselek–Pasighat line | From Murkongselek(AS) To Pasighat(AR) | Assam and Arunachal Pradesh | 26.15 | [20] |
| Sairiang-Hmawngbuchhuah line | From Sairang, Aizawl district | Mizoram | 223 | [21] |
| Imphal–Moreh line | From Imphal, Imphal district | Manipur | 111 | [22] |
The Government of two countries signed MoU for railway project linking Akhaurah, Bangladesh and Agartala of Tripura, India. [23] The project is expected to be completed in mid-2023. [24] NFR also conducted surveys for Belonia-Chittagong rail link. [25]
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Agartala is the capital and the largest city of the Indian state of Tripura, situated on the banks of Hoara River, about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) east of the border with Bangladesh and about 2,499 km (1,52 mi) from the National Capital New Delhi. According to 2022 census, Agartala is the third-most populous city in Northeast India with a population of about 5.7 lakh. It is India's third international internet gateway and being developed under the Smart Cities Mission.
Northeast India (officially the North Eastern Region(NER)) is the easternmost region of India representing both a geographic and political administrative division of the country. It comprises eight states—Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura (commonly known as the "Seven Sisters"), and the "brother" state Sikkim.
Shillong is a hill station and the capital of Meghalaya, a state in northeastern India. It is the headquarters of the East Khasi Hills district. Shillong is the 330th most populous city in India with a population of 143,229 according to the 2011 census. It is said that the rolling hills around the town reminded the British of Scotland. Hence, they would also refer to it as the "Scotland of the East".
The Northeast Frontier Railway is one of the 19 railway zones of the Indian Railways. It is headquartered in Maligaon, Guwahati in the state of Assam, and responsible for operation and expansion of rail network all across Northeastern states and some districts of eastern Bihar and northern West Bengal.
New Jalpaiguri Junction railway station established in 1960, is an A1 category broad gauge and narrow-gauge railway station under Katihar railway division of Northeast Frontier Railway zone. It is the largest as well as the busiest railway junction of Northeast India. This junction is largest among the railway stations which serves the city of Siliguri, the largest metropolis of the North Bengal. The other stations are- Siliguri Junction, Gulma, Bagdogra, Matigara, Rangapani and Siliguri Town. New Jalpaiguri junction ranked 10th cleanest railway station in India in 2016 survey and came among the top 100 booking stations of Indian railway. New Jalpaiguri, as a railway station serves as the entry point to North Bengal, Sikkim, other countries like Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and the seven northeastern states. New Jalpaiguri Junction acts as a connecting base for the Northeastern states to the Indian mainland.
The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region is a Government of India ministry, established in September 2001, which functions as the nodal Department of the Central Government to deal with matters related to the socio-economic development of the eight States of Northeast India: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim. It acts as a facilitator between the Central Ministries/ Departments and the State Governments of the North Eastern Region in the economic development including removal of infrastructural bottlenecks, provision of basic minimum services, creating an environment for private investment and to remove impediments to lasting peace and security in the North Eastern Region.
Guwahati railway station is located in the heart of the city of Guwahati, Assam. It is the first fully solar-operated railway station in India. It has been rated as A1-category station. Just behind the Guwahati Railway Station is the Assam State Transport Corporation Bus Terminal.
Dalkholarailway station is a railway station in Dalkhola, Uttar Dinajpur district, West Bengal, India. It is a standard II-R interlocked roadside station situated on electrified double line section at 43 metres above sea level. It also serves as a prominent rakepoint and the entry to the rest of the NFR. This station lies on Howrah–New Jalpaiguri line, Barauni–Guwahati line and Katihar-Siliguri line under Katihar railway division of Northeast Frontier Railway.
The Kaladan Road Project is a US$484 million project connecting the eastern Indian seaport of Kolkata with Sittwe seaport in Rakhine State, Myanmar by sea. In Myanmar, it will then link Sittwe seaport to Paletwa in Chin State via the Kaladan river boat route, and then from Paletwa by road to Mizoram state in Northeast India. All components of the project, including Sittwe port and power, river dredging, Paletwa jetty, have been completed, except the under construction Zorinpui-Paletwa road. Originally, the project was scheduled to be completed by 2014, but end-to-end project is expected to be fully operational only by March 2023 as per March 2021 update.
Agartala railway station is located 5.5 km (3.4 mi) from Agartala in Tripura, India. It is the second capital city in northeast India to be connected to the country's railway map, moreover Agartala is the first state capital of independent India to be connected with a rail network. Before 2015 the 413-kilometre (257 mi) route was connected to Lumding with a metre-gauge track, but after the gauge conversion to broad gauge in 2016, the track is connected directly to Guwahati and the rest of India.
Kishanganj railway station serves Kishanganj city in Kishanganj district in the Indian state of Bihar. It is one of the important railway station, as it lies on the important railway lines, they are Howrah–New Jalpaiguri line, Katihar–Siliguri line, and Barauni–Guwahati line. The famous Gaisal train disaster occurred at Gaisal railway station near Kishanganj.
New Bongaigaon Junction is a major railway junction station of Barauni–Guwahati line, and New Bongaigaon–Jogihopa–Kamakhya line of Northeast Frontier Railway. The one and only railway station in India which is located over a river named Tunia. It is the largest railway station with Carriage & Wagon Workshop in Rangiya railway division.
Mendipathar railway station is a railway station located in Resubelpara Municipal Board Jurisdiction, Meghalaya, India.
Northeast India consists of the eight states Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura. Tourism in this area is based around the unique Himalayan landscape and culture distinct from the rest of India.
Jawaharnagar railway station is a railway station located near Sikaribari of Dhalai district in Tripura.
The Republic of India shares borders with several sovereign countries; it shares land borders with China, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar. Bangladesh and Pakistan share both land borders as well as maritime borders, while Sri Lanka shares only a maritime border through Ram Setu. India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands share a maritime border with Thailand, Myanmar and Indonesia.
Karimganj Junction railway station serves the Indian city of Karimganj in Assam. It belongs to Lumding railway division of Northeast Frontier Railway zone. It is located in Karimganj district. It is the second biggest railway station in Karimganj District, after Badarpur Junction. It is also one of the three railway stations serving the city of Karimganj, the others being Longai and New Karimganj. It is one of the oldest railway station in India built under Assam Bengal Railway. It is the main railway station of Karimganj Town. It consists of two platforms with a total of 12 halting trains. It serves as the main halt for all passenger trains from Silchar, Agartala, Dharmanagar, Dullabcherra, Badarpur, and Mahisasan. The station consists of a single diesel line.
The Deoghar–Agartala Weekly Express is an Express train belonging to Northeast Frontier Railway zone that runs between Deoghar Junction in Jharkhand, India and Agartala in Tripura, India. It is currently being operated with 15625/15626 train numbers on a weekly basis.
Aluabari Road Junction railway station is a junction railway station on Katihar–Siliguri branch of Howrah–New Jalpaiguri line in the Katihar railway division of Northeast Frontier Railway zone. It is situated beside National Highway 27 (India) at Islampur of Uttar Dinajpur district in the Indian state of West Bengal. This railway station connects the Alubari–Siliguri branch line and New Farakka–New Jalpaiguri line. Total 35 express and passenger trains stop at Aluabari Road Junction railway station in a day.
Maitri Setu is a 150-metre (490 ft) bridge on Feni River which links Tripura in India with Chittagong port in Bangladesh, thus providing a shorter and more economical alternate land route between India's eastern and western states compared to the longer route through Assam. On 9 March 2021, it was officially opened to public by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. The bridge is constructed and being maintained by NHIDCL.