Northeast Frontier Railway Plans Vande Bharat Expansion to Agartala

Agartala: Northeast Frontier Railway General Manager Chetan Kumar Shrivastava announced plans to expand Vande Bharat train services beyond Guwahati. Trains will soon run to Tinsukia and Agartala in both directions. Officials expect these routes to provide faster, more comfortable travel for passengers across the region.

The federal government approved a fourth railway line through the Siliguri Corridor. Known as the Chicken's Neck, this 20-to-22 kilometer wide, 60-kilometer long strip connects the Northeast to the rest of India. Shrivastava stated, "A third line had earlier been proposed for the section, but approval has now been accorded for a fourth line as well."

Infrastructure work continues across the network. A 29-kilometer double-line underground project between Tinmai Ghat and Bagdogra is underway. Crews are also doubling the line in the Barsoi section and expanding facilities in the Katihar division to handle rising passenger and freight traffic. The railway completed 100 percent electrification of its network and aims to increase electric train operations.

Station upgrades remain a top priority. Redevelopment of the New Jalpaiguri station should finish by April 2027. Shrivastava noted that the department intends to roll out local services from Jogbani, Radhikapur, and Balurghat to link remote border areas. Last year, the railway introduced 42 new trains and added 250 stops to improve regional connectivity.