Guwahati, April 22 (IANS) The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has undertaken a comprehensive review of its ongoing safety drive and infrastructural preparedness, particularly in anticipation of the four-month-long monsoon season from June to September, officials said on Wednesday.​

NFR Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Kapinjal Kishore Sharma stated that NFR General Manager Chetan Kumar Shrivastava conducted an extensive inspection of the Bairabi (along the Assam-Mizoram border)–Badarpur and Badarpur–Patharkhola sections under the Lumding Division.​

He noted that the inspection was part of a broader initiative to assess safety measures and evaluate infrastructural readiness ahead of the monsoon season.​

During the visit, a detailed window-trailing inspection of railway tracks was carried out to examine track fitness and the structural integrity of these sections, Sharma added.​

According to the NFR Chief Public Relations Officer, this exercise plays a crucial role in identifying potential vulnerabilities and ensuring the resilience of railway infrastructure against monsoon-related challenges such as waterlogging, soil erosion, and track instability.​

The General Manager also reviewed key safety parameters and directed officials to ensure stringent monitoring and timely maintenance interventions.​

On the occasion, the General Manager visited the newly constructed Sub-Divisional Training Centre and an Ultrasonic Flaw Detection laboratory at Badarpur.​

Sharma said these facilities are designed to enhance railway personnel’s technical capabilities and improve the efficiency of track inspection and defect-detection systems.​

These initiatives underscore NFR’s commitment to capacity building and to adopting advanced technologies to ensure safer, more reliable railway operations.​

He also inspected Badarpur railway station and reviewed the progress of ongoing development works during the visit.​

The inspection gains added significance in the context of the strategically important railway connectivity project extending from Bairabi in southern Assam to Sairang near Aizawl in Mizoram.​

Commissioned in 2025, this link has substantially improved regional connectivity and contributed to Mizoram’s economic integration with the rest of the country.​

The introduction of railway connectivity to Sairang has provided a major boost to tourism and the state’s economy.​

Ensuring the safety and durability of the existing sections up to Bairabi remains critical, as they serve as a vital link in this extended rail network.​

During every monsoon season, railway infrastructure is disrupted, affecting rail connectivity among various Northeastern states.​

On September 13, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 51.38-km Bairabi–Sairang New Railway Line, bringing Aizawl onto India’s railway map for the first time.​

–IANS

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