Minister of Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & IT Ashwini Vaishnaw, confirmed that one Vande Bharat Express is already operational in the Northeast, with another soon to connect Guwahati and Agartala. While speaking at the Advantage Assam 2.0 Investment and Infrastructure Summit at Guwahati on Tuesday, he made the announcement.
According to a PIB Press release, “The Minister underscored the government’s success in constructing 1,824 km of new railway tracks in Assam and the North East since 2014. He also noted the commissioning of two Gati Shakti cargo terminals in Assam at Moinarband and Cinnamara and announced development of 06 additional Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals at Chaygaon, New Bongaigaon, Bihara, Hilara, Baihata and Rangjuli which will significantly enhance the region’s railway network. Further bolstering connectivity, he confirmed that one Vande Bharat Express is already operational in the Northeast, with another soon to connect Guwahati and Agartala. He also announced the sanctioning of two Amrit Bharat trains (between Guwahati-Delhi and Guwahati-Chennai), which will become operational this year, and the establishment of a railway engine midlife remanufacturing facility in Lumding. The Minister also accounced the plan to set up a Wagon Workshop at Bashbari in Bodoland area at a cost of Rs 300 cr.”
Also, an official press release from NFR said, Chief Minister of Assam Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma along with senior ministers of Assam was present during the session.
The General Manager of Northeast Frontier Railway Chetan Kumar Shrivastava, General Manager of Northeast Frontier Railway (Construction) Arun Kumar Chaudhary and senior railway officials were also present.
The Railway Minister announced several new initiatives and projects related to the Railway and IT industries which will be a huge boost to development in Assam. He said, the Northeast is the ‘New Engine’ of Development of India.
A new mega railway workshop will be established in Basbari, Bodoland, fulfilling a key commitment under the Bodoland agreement while accelerating industrial growth. Additionally, a dedicated mid-life reconstruction facility for locomotives will be set up in Lumding to enhance railway operations and maintenance.
He further said Guwahati Railway Station is undergoing a major transformation into a world-class facility, incorporating a 12-storey IT park to foster technological innovation and employment. Assam will also see the introduction of two Amrit Bharat Trains within the next 10 months, along with two new intercity train services connecting Guwahati to Silchar and Agartala.
To enhance railway connectivity and operational efficiency, the strategic Chicken Neck corridor will undergo quadrupling work. Moreover, the Kokrajhar – Gelephu railway project will establish a vital railway link between India and Bhutan, facilitating trade and connectivity. Six new Gati Shakti terminals have been sanctioned to optimize freight movement and logistics efficiency across the region.
The Railway Minister also announced that the IT and electronics sectors are also set to receive a major boost, with plans for another new semiconductor hub in Assam to promote self-reliance in semiconductor manufacturing. Furthermore, an advanced electronics manufacturing hub will be developed in Kamrup district in Assam, generating employment and fostering industrial expansion.
It may be mentioned that the Gross Budget Allocation for Railway infrastructure projects in Northeast for the FY 2025-26 is Rs. 10,440 crores. It is more than 5 times as compared to average budget allocation of Rs. 2,122 crores during 2009-14.
As per the press statement issued by CPRO Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, these railway and IT related initiatives reaffirm the government’s commitment to accelerating economic growth in Assam and the Northeast, ensuring improved connectivity, industrial advancement, and job creation.
