The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) on Tuesday highlighted a series of achievements for the financial year 2025–26, underscoring expansion, modernisation and improved connectivity across the region at a time when Bengal heads into high-stakes Assembly polls.
In a statement, the NFR said it had “achieved significant milestones during the financial year 2025–26, reinforcing its commitment towards enhanced connectivity, modernisation, passenger comfort and regional development across the Northeast”.
Kishore Sharma, chief public relations officer, stated in the media release: “As part of its expansion drive, the NFR introduced 20 pairs of new train services, including premium, semi-premium and conventional trains, thereby strengthening rail connectivity within the region as well as with the rest of the country.”
The NFR said it had “increased the speeds of 35 trains, resulting in a cumulative saving of 675 minutes in travel time, with an average reduction of about 19 minutes per train”.
It completed “100% electrification, contributing to Indian Railways’ mission of sustainable and energy-efficient operations, while enhancing line capacity and improving overall train handling efficiency”.
Among key infrastructure developments, the railways underlined the commissioning of the Bairabi–Sairang line in Mizoram, calling it a “historic development”, with passenger services witnessing an “overwhelming response” and “several trains recording over 100% occupancy”.
Sharma stated that freight movement, too, saw a push, with the NFR noting transportation of “cement, stone chips, automobiles and other goods”, alongside milestones such as the “first inward automobile rake at Sairang”, freight operations at Molvom in Nagaland and “first-ever full rake loading at Mendipathar in Meghalaya,” which it said had “significantly boosted regional trade, market access and economic opportunities”.
The NFR also flagged the rollout of new-generation trains, including “India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper Express connecting Howrah and Guwahati”.
The railways stated that the station redevelopment under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme is also underway, with Haibargaon station in Assam emerging as a “model station blending contemporary infrastructure with local heritage”, while the Kamakhyaguri station in north Bengal has also been upgraded with “improved passenger-friendly facilities".
The NFR added that it had invested in social infrastructure, stating that it was “upgrading railway hospitals with improved facilities and modern equipment, and enhancing railway schools with better infrastructure and digital learning environments".
The statement said these measures reflected a “holistic approach towards development,” aimed at improving both passenger services and employee welfare while driving “inclusive growth across the Northeast region".
“The announcement comes at a politically sensitive time, with Bengal in full election mode,” said an observer.