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Guwahati, Nov 13 (IANS) In a major step towards improving safety, accessibility and operational efficiency, the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has taken the initiative to provide passage on railway bridges across its network, officials said on Thursday.
NFR Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Kapinjal Kishore Sharma said the initiative is aimed at ensuring safe movement for railway personnel engaged in inspection, maintenance and operational activities on the bridges.
As of October, work has been allocated to all sanctioned projects, marking continued progress under NFR’s Security Enhancement Plan. The CPRO said a total of 943 railway bridges in the Northeast Frontier Railway have been identified for route provision.
Of these, roads have already been provided on 382 bridges, while work is in progress on 561 bridges. According to the official, work was done on 32 bridges during 2024-25.
For the year 2025-26, it is targeted to complete the route on 109 bridges, of which work on 49 is already in progress. There are plans to cover 452 bridges in the next five years. Rangiya division has the highest number of bridges (250), followed by Lumding (227), Alipurduar (200), Katihar (163) and Tinsukia (103) divisions.
The provision of right-of-way on bridges provides several benefits. It ensures increased safety for railway personnel by providing a safe route for movement, reducing the risk of accidents and injuries and allowing easy access to bridge structures for routine inspection and maintenance.
Sharma said these routes also facilitate safe access during emergencies, such as when a rake stops at a bridge, so loco pilots and technical staff are able to reach the site immediately. With this initiative, Northeast Frontier Railway reiterates its strong commitment towards safety, reliability and community welfare.
The project exemplifies NFR’s continuing efforts to modernize infrastructure, improve maintenance efficiency and enhance passenger and staff safety. The CPRO said that through such proactive measures, NFR continues to strengthen its vision of creating a safe, inclusive and people-friendly railway network in the North Eastern region.
The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) operates in the northeastern states and seven districts of West Bengal and five districts of North Bihar.
–IANS
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