GUWAHATI, Oct 10 - Intending to augment passenger amenities and improve the railway infrastructure in the eastern part of the State, the Maligaon-headquartered Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has started some developmental works in the areas falling under its Tinsukia Division.
�The areas falling under the Tinsukia Division are located at a strategically important zone. For a long time, the division did not receive adequate focus from the railways. However, the trend has now changed. Several developmental activities were undertaken by the zone for improvement of infrastructure and augmenting passenger amenities in the division during the last financial year. We have now started undertaking new projects this year as well,� a senior official of the Indian Railways told The Assam Tribune.
With a total of 72 stations, the Tinsukia Division is spread over the eastern part of the State. There are three Category �A� stations (Dibrugarh Town, Tinsukia and Jorhat Town) and three Category �B� stations (Dibrugarh, New Tinsukia and Mariani) in the division.
Tinsukia is one of the five divisions under the NFR zone.
The official said work has been taken up for the provision of foot overbridges (FOBs) at Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Namrup, Borhat, Sapekhati, Bhojo, Amguri and Moranhat railway stations.
�Besides, we have also taken up projects for the extension of platforms at 11 stations. These are Dibrugarh Town, Tinsukia, Chabua, Duliajan, Naharkatia, Bhojo, Golaghat, Sivasagar Town, Borhat, Sapekhati and Amguri,� added the official.
Work has also been started for the redevelopment of the station building at New Tinsukia.
�Among other projects for increasing passenger amenities are work for provision of lifts at Dibrugarh, Tinsukia and Mariani stations and escalators at New Tinsukia station,� added the official.
He added that these works have been initiated after successful completion of some other projects during the last fiscal.
During 2018-19, the NFR had completed extension of platform sheds at the Mariani railway station, besides installation of Point of Sale (POS) machines at 22 PRS locations to facilitate cashless transaction.
A high-level platform at the Namrup railway station was inaugurated last year, in addition to the extension of a FOB at Furkating and opening of fast food units at Dibrugarh Town and Mariani.
�Passenger helpline display boards have been provided at all stations of the division and work is progressing for installation of Wi-Fi internet connection at various stations,� an NFR official said.
He said initiatives towards promoting online booking, E-ticketing and payment through digital money have been stepped up at the Tinsukia Division.
The mobile application service �UTS Mobile App� was introduced over the entire Tinsukia Division last year to facilitate online ticketing of the unreserved ticket.
�Machines and tools have been provided at all major stations for mechanised cleaning of stations, while automatic water vending machines have been installed at many of the places. All the stations under the division have been provided with LED lights for better illumination during night time,� said the official.
