Dimapur, Feb. 5 (EMN): The much-anticipated electric train service of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has become a reality with the 55704 Katihar-Malda court passenger train runnng on electric engines.
A press release issued by NFR at Maligaon on Feb. 5 informed that electrification on the Katihar-Kumedpur-Malda Court was completed in Dec. previous year and that the commissioner of railway safety had permitted running the passenger and goods train in the section. Following the clearance, the first passenger train in the electrified section is said to have started on Jan. 24 2018.
The Katihar Yard is said to have been electrified in March 2017. Long-distance trains started changing engines and traction at Katihar station from 2017. The work for electrification from Katihar to Kumedpur via New Jalpaiguri and Raninagar Jalpaiguri was sanctioned at a cost of INR 166 crore and the work for electrification of the Kumedpur- Singbad via old Malda route was undertaken at a cost of INR 43 crore, it was informed.
NFR has taken up electrification work of the New Jalpaiguri-Bongaigaon-Guwahati section, the updates said. Work is progressing well, the release added.
72 hours intensive drive against corruption ends
The 72-hour anti-corruption drive which was launched on Jan. 31 by NFR to check corruption in railway establishments as directed by the Railway Ministry has concluded on Feb. 1. The drive is said to have specially covered commercial establishments throughout NFR stations and trains.
An educational campign also was launched to spread awareness among railway users to discourage corrupt practices involving railway officials. Two vigilance helpline numbers 155210 and 9435550967 were release for the public to inform the authorities about corrupt practices, the release stated.
