Guwahati-Dullabcherra Express to Halt at Hilara and Sukritipur Amid Gammon Bridge Repairs

The critical artery of Barak Valley, the Gammon Bridge connecting Badarpur with Katigorah, will undergo repair works until July. This has prompted long-distance vehicles to take alternative routes and daily commuters to take ferries across the Barak River.

In a move aimed at easing travel woes triggered by the ongoing repair works at the Gammon Bridge in Katigorah, the Northeast Frontier Railway has announced temporary halts for the Guwahati-Dullabcherra-Guwahati Express at Hilara and Sukritipur stations for a period of 45 days. The changes, effective from Wednesday (May 28, 2025), are expected to significantly benefit commuters across Barak Valley.

According to an official release from the Regional Office of Information & Public Relations, Barak Valley Zone, the Guwahati-bound Train No. 15617 will halt at Hilara at 06:10 hrs and depart at 06:12 hrs, and at Sukritipur at 06:23 hrs, leaving at 06:25 hrs. In the return direction, Train No. 15618 will stop at Hilara at 14:37 hrs and depart at 14:39 hrs starting May 29 (Thursday).

The temporary stoppages have been introduced in view of the partial disruption caused by the repair of the Gammon Bridge, a key link in Barak Valley’s transport network. Railway officials believe the step will ensure continued connectivity and offer much-needed relief to daily commuters from these localities.

The Chief Public Relations Officer of the Northeast Frontier Railway, in a statement issued from Maligaon, Guwahati, emphasised that the decision reflects the administration’s sensitive and region-specific approach during infrastructure maintenance periods.

With the summer travel season in full swing, the move is being welcomed as a timely intervention. Locals see this as not just a logistical adjustment, but a long-overdue recognition of their daily travel needs. If the halts prove successful, the railway authorities may consider making them permanent, turning Hilara and Sukritipur into key regional stops.

As the bridge repairs continue, the temporary halts serve as both a practical solution and a symbolic gesture, bridging not only a physical gap but also addressing a long-standing demand for equitable access to transport infrastructure.