Tripura to Welcome Vande Bharat Express Soon: On Saturday, Union Minister Pratima Bhoumik announced that Tripura is set to receive a new Vande Bharat Express, a semi-high-speed train service covering medium distances, by mid-June or July 2024. The Northeastern Frontier Railway is currently working on electrifying tracks to support this initiative.
Electrification of Railway Network
The North East Frontier Railway (NFR) has initiated the electrification of the railway network from Dharmanagar to Agartala, with a targeted completion date set for June or July. Once completed, this electrification project will significantly reduce travel time between Agartala and Guwahati, making it possible to reach the latter in just four to five hours.
Achievements and Progress
During an election rally at Dhanpur in the Tripura West Lok Sabha constituency, Minister Bhoumik highlighted the significant advancements in railway infrastructure in Tripura. She emphasized that while previous governments took 44 years to extend the railway service to Churaibari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration accomplished the task of bringing the broad gauge railway service to Agartala in just two years. Additionally, railway connectivity has been extended to Sabroom in the southern part of the state by 2020.
Future Plans
Bhoumik also disclosed her discussions with Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, indicating that the electrification work up to Agartala is on track for completion by mid-2024. Once finalized, the Vande Bharat Express will be extended up to Agartala, drastically reducing travel time between Tripura and Guwahati from 12 hours to four to five hours.
Conclusion
The impending introduction of the Vande Bharat Express to Tripura marks a significant milestone in the region’s railway connectivity. Minister Bhoumik attributes these developments to the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, underscoring the government’s commitment to enhancing transportation infrastructure in the northeastern states.
