Northeast Frontier Railway records highest-ever rooftop solar capacity, expands electric traction

DIMAPUR — Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has achieved its highest-ever rooftop solar installation in a single financial year while also expanding electric traction infrastructure and safety systems, according to a press release issued by the Chief Public Relations Officer on Thursday.

The release stated that up to December 2025, NFR commissioned 9.27 MWp of rooftop solar power plants during FY 2025–26, which is 373 per cent higher than the corresponding period of the previous financial year. This is the highest rooftop solar capacity installed in any single financial year since 2011–12.

With this addition, NFR’s cumulative solar capacity has reached 18.4 MWp as on December 31, 2025, which the railway said would result in significant energy savings and reduction in carbon footprint.

Also read: Efforts on to create model tourist circuit in Northeast: Government

On electric traction, the release said Trip Inspection (TRIP) sheds at New Jalpaiguri (NJP) and Dibrugarh (DBRG) were commissioned on August 20, 2025 and November 27, 2025 respectively to facilitate electric locomotive inspections and improve operational reliability.

It further stated that KAVACH, the indigenous Automatic Train Protection system, has been installed in 81 out of 285 electric locomotives in NFR’s fleet.

As part of the shift from diesel to cleaner traction, 31 pairs of trains have been converted to end-to-end electric traction, resulting in the saving of 26 diesel locomotives.

In the area of training and safety, NFR said a working model of the Automatic Block System has been developed and installed at the New Bongaigaon (NBQ) lobby to enhance train crew knowledge. Sectional videography during night hours has also been introduced in Katihar (KIR), Alipurduar (APDJ), Rangiya (RNY) and Tinsukia (TSK) divisions to improve route familiarisation and situational awareness of running staff.