GUWAHATI, Feb 9 - The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) today said that the recent General Budget has sanctioned 100 per cent electrification in the zone. �Budget 2018 has sanctioned electrification of the entire length of NFR at an estimated cost of Rs 2,353 crore. With the sanctioning of electrification of 2,536 km of track, the whole of NFR track length, including all branch lines would now be covered by electric traction,� said an official statement.
It added, �Electrification of railway tracks up to Katihar and between Katihar and Old Malda has been completed and the first passenger train on the Katihar�Old Malda section ran on January 24 this year. Currently, trains coming to and going out from NFR change from diesel traction to electric traction at Katihar. Presently work is in progress for electrification up to Guwahati, which is to be completed by January 2020.�