Guwahati: The Indian Railways has significantly increased its investment in Northeast infrastructure since 2014, with the annual budget surging more than five times, according to Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of Northeast Frontier Railway.
Sharma highlighted that projects sanctioned as early as 2007-08 remained underfunded, leading to delays in critical infrastructure. However, the post-2014 era marked a dramatic shift with substantial budget allocations aimed at transforming connectivity in the region.
“This year alone, more than ₹10,000 crore has been sanctioned for railway development in the Northeast. We expect a major transformation in the next four years,” Sharma stated. He emphasized that improved connectivity would benefit local farmers and producers, enabling them to expand their market reach both across India and internationally.
The Northeast is undergoing a historic infrastructure overhaul with projects focusing on electrification, new railway lines, and improved access to remote areas. This year, ₹10,400 crore has been sanctioned, a significant rise compared to pre-2014 levels, reflecting the government’s commitment to boosting regional connectivity.
Electrification projects are progressing rapidly, with the entire Assam railway network set to be completed by 2025. In Manipur, work on the 110-km railway project to Imphal is halfway complete, with goods and passenger trains already reaching Kongsang. Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh are also witnessing major railway expansion.
However, Sharma noted that while several railway connectivity projects with Bangladesh remain on hold due to political factors, the overall infrastrucure transformation in the Northeast is expected to accelerate in the coming years.
Earlier this month, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw engaged with Northeast media personnel to discuss the railway budget for 2025-26. The Centre has allocated ₹10,440 crore for Northeast railway infrastructure development, reinforcing the commitment to expansion, modernization, and safety enhancements in rail travel.
The session was attended by Chetan Kumar Shrivastava, General Manager of N. F. Railway, Arun Kumar Choudhary, General Manager of N. F. Railway (Construction), along with senior railway officials. The minister highlighted that for the second consecutive year, Indian Railways has received a record budget exceeding ₹2.65 lakh crore, marking a new milestone in the country’s railway development strategy.
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