Guwahati: Restoration work at New Harangajao railway station has entered a crucial phase, with the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) aiming to reopen Line No. 2 by September 5 and restore another affected line by the end of the month.
The Maligaon-headquartered NFR said substantial progress has been made at the site, where railway infrastructure has been facing continuous settlement and lateral movement since July 20. Around 500 personnel are currently engaged in the restoration operation, working continuously to stabilise the affected section and bring train services back to normal.
A large fleet of heavy machinery has also been deployed for the work. NFR said the operation involves 22 PC excavators, 12 JCB machines and 18 tractors, besides specialised equipment such as pneumatic drills and hydraulic piling rigs.
The ground instability at New Harangajao has been linked to changes in the natural flow of water and the local drainage system. According to NFR, increased water inflow from the hillside upstream has resulted in significant accumulation of water beneath the ground, weakening the railway formation and causing the settlement and shifting of the track infrastructure.
Passenger safety remains the primary consideration during the restoration process. As a precaution, train operations in the affected yard are currently being routed through Line No. 3 under enhanced safety arrangements.
NFR has undertaken several engineering measures to stabilise the site, including improved drainage management, dewatering and strengthening of the affected railway formation. The objective is to restore the remaining lines as quickly as possible without compromising operational safety.
The reopening of Line No. 2, if achieved as targeted, is expected to provide greater flexibility for train operations through the affected section and allow additional trains to operate. NFR is targeting the restoration of Line No. 1 by the end of September.
The New Harangajao disruption has affected train movement along the Lumding-Badarpur hill section, an important railway corridor in the region. NFR said manpower, machinery and other necessary resources are being continuously deployed at the site to accelerate the restoration work.
The railway authorities have reiterated that restoration will be carried out with passenger safety as the foremost priority while efforts continue to return train movement through the hill section to normal.
