DIMAPUR — The N.F. Railway (NFR) has updated that it undertaking monsoon preparatory works on a mission mode along with proper upkeep and maintenance of the civil, mechanical, signalling, electrical assets and equipment, etc. to ensure that train services are not disrupted during the season.
Stating that heavy rainfall causes landslides, breaching of embankments, overflowing of bridges etc. in the region, it said “a detailed strategy is adopted to ensure that the tracks are protected and kept in good condition so that safety of passengers is not compromised”.
“For this, NFR has formulated a detailed strategy for the safety of railway tracks. As part of preparations before the monsoon collection of materials at sensitive places, cleaning drainage systems, cleaning of waterways of bridges, marking danger levels in bridges etc. have been completed.
“While all preventive measures have been taken, NFR has also deployed patrolling teams to continuously watch more than 6400 km of tracks in its jurisdiction for any defect that may arise due to heavy rainfall. This team patrols the track on the basis of rainfall alert issued by the Meteorological Department,” it said, adding that the patrolmen are equipped with the state-of-the-art equipment like GPS tracker, luminous jacket, raincoat, flashlights, etc.
In addition to patrols, stationary watchmen have also been appointed on sensitive areas i.e. sites prone to landslides, bridges where water is flowing near danger levels etc., it said.
The NFR went on to inform that “about 309909 cum of boulder, 17426 cum of quarry dust, 22000 cum of silt, 45000 nos. of sand filled bags and 289800 nos. empty cement bags are kept as monsoon reserve stock on ground”.