Shillong: Meghalaya is all set to get first ever electric-run trains, the Indian Railways has notified.
“With the Indian Railways progressing at full throttle for becoming ‘Net Zero Carbon Emitter’ by 2030 and in an endeavour for complete electrification, the Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR) has achieved another milestone by commissioning Dudhnai–Mendipathar (22.823 kilometre track) single line section and Abhayapuri–Pancharatna (34.59 kilometre track) double line section on March, 15 2023,” an official statement said on Friday .
“The Central Organization for Railway Electrification (CORE) has carried out the electrification works in these sections,” the statement added.
Mendipathar in North Garo Hills district is the only railway station in the north-eastern state of Meghalaya which is in operation since 2014 after being inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“After commissioning of electric traction, trains hauled by electric locomotive will now be able to operate directly from Mendipathar in Meghalaya which will increase the average speed,” the official statement said.
“More passenger and freight carrying trains will be able to operate through these sections with full sectional speeds. Punctuality will also increase in this section. Parcel and freight carrying trains hauled by electric locomotives from other states will be able to reach Meghalaya directly,” the release read.
“Electrification will significantly improve the mobility of trains in Northeast India. In addition to the reduction in pollution due to the shift from fossil fuel to electricity, 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 apart from savings in precious foreign exchange,” the statement highlighted.
