With nearly 56 km long rail route being electrified in the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) zone, Meghalaya will soon be witnessing electric locomotive hauled trains in the region.
Indian Railways is progressing at full throttle on its way to become a net-zero carbon emitter by 2030.
In an endeavour for complete electrification, NFR has achieved another milestone by commissioning the Dudhnoi–Mendipathar (22.823 track-km) single line section and Abhayapuri–Pancharatna (34.59 track-km) double line section on 15 March, 2023.
Electrification will significantly improve the mobility of trains in Northeast India. The Central Organization for Railway Electrification has carried out the electrification works in these sections.
Mendipathar is the only railway station in the northeastern state of Meghalaya which is in operation since 2014 after being inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
After commissioning of electric traction, electric locomotives will now be able to operate directly from Mendipathar in Meghalaya which will increase the average speed.
More passenger and freight carrying trains will be able to operate through these sections with full sectional speeds. Parcel and freight carrying trains hauled by electric locomotives from other states will be able to reach Meghalaya directly.
In addition to the reduction in pollution due to the shift from fossil fuel to electricity, with better punctuality of trains in this section, the efficiency of the Railway system in the region will also improve.
This would facilitate seamless traffic and also save time of the trains moving to and from Northeastern states.