Silchar - Guwahati train line restored; Engines rolled today in the Badarpur - Lumding damaged section

Finally, after 17 days of hard work, the wheel rolled on the track laid over the damaged section at km 57/0-1 between Mupa & Maibang stations of hill section, which suffered sinkage on June 1.

Northeast Frontier Railway PRO Nripen Bhattacharyya confirming it to Barak Bulletin over a telephonic conversation, said the call to run freight and passenger trains will be taken soon. “Engine moved over the repaired section today, which in railway’s parlance termed as Engine Rolling. This is to test the track.”

The official further informed that they are waiting for the track fit certificate following which the commercial use of the line will open up.

It can be mentioned here that the alignment of the track had to be shifted 100-150 meters towards the hills as the original alignment was not repairable.

The geography of the site is such that on one side of the track has a hilly terrain whereas in the opposite is tributary Boyla river. So the NF Railways is now also adding efforts to protect the bank of the river from getting it further eroded.

The General Manager of the NF Railway, along with other officials, yesterday visited the damaged site and took stock of the restoration activity there. Speaking to the press there, he didn’t give any target date for resumption of passenger service but assured all that railway employees are devoting round the clock time to get wheels to roll again.

It can be mentioned here that rail service to the valley stalled on the night of 1st June after sinkage of the track at km 57/0-1 between Mupa & Maibang stations of hill section  As a result, Tripura, Manipur and Mizoram, the three northeastern states, including Barak, have got cut from rail map. Although the hill line was supposed to be operational from 16th June, it got delayed due to the challenges thrown by nature.