New Bongaigaon-Goalpara-Guwahati double-line construction of in full swing

GUWAHATI: The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) is constructing a second line via Goalpara Town from New Bongaigaon to Guwahati beside the existing single line. This 176-km-long new line was sanctioned in September 2016 at an anticipated cost of about Rs 2,950 crore.

The work of this project is going on in full swing with adequate allocation of fund. This year's budget has allocated an amount of Rs 610 crore. Last year an amount of Rs 450 crore was allocated for the project. Once completed, it would provide faster alternate double line route between New Bongaigaon and Kamakhya. This will ease out traffic in already saturated main line between New Bongaigaon and Kamakhya. After commissioning of this doubling project, punctuality of passenger trains will also get a boost. Movement of men and material in case of any disaster or natural calamity will be more expeditious.

Nearly 50 per cent of the project work has already been completed with an expenditure of about Rs 1,095 crore. A distance of 17.46 kms of the project has already been commissioned for train operation. After commissioning of the entire project this project will augment the line capacity to run more passenger and freight trains and enable more traffic blocks for better asset maintenance which will increase safety and reliability of system.

379 minor and 56 major bridges with 61 Road Under Bridge/Limited Height Subway are to be constructed in this 176 km long project. 135.60 Lakh Cum of earthwork has also to be done along with construction of 16 station buildings.

For speedy implementation, the entire project has been segregated into various sections. While work is in progress in all the sections; work up to Bamunigaon station is expected to over by December 2021, Bamunigaon – Azara section is targeted for commissioning by February 2022 and finally reaching Kamakhya by March 2023.

With the completion of this project not only a vast part of Assam will get benefitted with better connectivity but also a part of Meghalaya will get the benefit as the BG rail connectivity to Mendipather station located in the North Garo Hills district of Meghalaya takes off from the Dhudnoi station of Assam falling in this section, stated a release. Local people and economy of both the States will be able to reap the benefit of this project once fully commissioned with visible transformation.

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