Northeast Railway undergoes historic transformation, budget up 5x since 2014: CPRO

The Indian Railways’ investment in Northeast infrastructure has seen an unprecedented boost 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.

Speaking on the region’s connectivity, Sharma highlighted how projects sanctioned as early as 2007-08 saw minimal funding before 2014, delaying critical infrastructure. 

However, post-2014, the scenario changed dramatically with substantial allocations.

"This year alone, more than Rs 10,000 crore has been sanctioned for railway development in the Northeast. We expect that in the next four years, a major transformation will take place," Sharma stated. He emphasized that improved connectivity would significantly benefit local farmers and producers, enabling them to sell their products not just across India but also in foreign markets.

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With ongoing electrification, new railway lines, and connectivity to remote regions, the Northeast is on track for a historic infrastructure overhaul, strengthening both economic and logistical frameworks.

"In the northeast, there has been an extensive focus on improving infrastructure. About Rs 10,400 crore has been sanctioned for the region, a significant increase compared to pre-2014 levels. This reflects the government’s commitment to enhancing connectivity," Sharma stated.

Electrification is progressing rapidly, with the entire Assam network set to be completed by 2025. In Manipur, work on the 110-km railway project up to Imphal is halfway done, with goods and passenger trains already reaching Kongsang. Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh are also seeing major rail expansion.

Sharma further noted that while several railway connectivity projects with Bangladesh remain on hold due to the political situation there, the overall connectivity scenario in the Northeast is expected to undergo a major transformation in the coming years.

Earlier this month, Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw engaged with media personnel from the Northeast to discuss the railway budget allocations for 2025-26. Rs 10,440 crore for Northeast has been allocated by the Centre to boost the development of infrastructure in the region.

The interaction was attended by Chetan Kumar Shrivastava, General Manager of N. F. Railway, Arun Kumar Choudhary, General Manager of N. F. Railway (Construction), and senior railway officials.

During his address, the railway minister highlighted that, for the second consecutive year, Indian Railways has received a record allocation exceeding Rs 2.65 lakh crore. The government is committed to expanding, modernizing, and enhancing safety in rail travel across the country.