**Executive Summary:**
This document provides the Ministry of Railway's response to questions regarding railway projects in Assam, specifically within the Northeast Frontier (NF) Railway. It details the status of level crossings, construction of Road Over Bridges (ROBs) and Road Under Bridges (RUBs), ongoing and planned railway projects, reasons for delays, and the status of the Agthori-Kamakhya section. The information is current as of April 1, 2025, unless otherwise specified.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Level Crossings:**
* All Unmanned Level Crossings (UMLCs) on Broad Gauge (BG) lines were eliminated by January 31, 2019.
* As of April 1, 2025, there are 306 Manned Level Crossings (MLCs) in Rangiya, 204 in Lumding, and 278 in Tinsukia divisions.
* **Road Over Bridges (ROBs) / Road Under Bridges (RUBs):**
* Sanctioning ROB/RUB works is a continuous process based on safety, mobility, and feasibility.
* 4,148 ROBs/RUBs were constructed from 2004-14, and 13,426 from 2014-June 2025.
* As of April 1, 2025, 4,402 ROBs/RUBs are sanctioned at a cost of ₹1,00,860 Crore on Indian Railways, including 61 in Assam costing ₹1,288 Crore (various stages of planning/execution).
* 325 ROBs/RUBs completed in Assam from 2014-June 2025.
* ROBs/RUBs in Rangiya: 26 (various stages of planning/execution).
* ROBs/RUBs in Lumding: 9 (various stages of planning/execution).
* ROBs/RUBs in Tinsukia: 34 (various stages of planning/execution).
* Completion depends on factors like state government cooperation, land acquisition, clearances, and local conditions.
* **Railway Projects:**
* Projects are sanctioned based on remunerativeness, traffic, connectivity, and other operational/socio-economic factors.
* As of April 1, 2025, 12 projects (8 New Line, 4 Doubling) totaling 777 km costing ₹69,342 Crore are sanctioned in the Northeast Region (including Assam). 278 km commissioned, ₹41,676 Crore spent up to March 2025.
* New Line projects: 448 km total length, 113 km commissioned, ₹38,078 Crore spent.
* Doubling projects: 329 km total length, 165 km commissioned, ₹3,598 Crore spent.
* Track commissioning increased from 66.6 km/year (2009-14) to 167.27 km/year (2014-25).
* Average Budget allocation for Infrastructure projects and other works, falling fully partly in North East Region including the state of Assam, increased nearly 5 times from ₹2,122 Crore/year (2009-14) to ₹10,440 Crore.
* **Saraighat Bridge:**
* Construction of the 2nd Saraighat Rail cum Road Bridge is sanctioned; tender invited.
* **Recently Completed and Ongoing Projects (Examples):**
* Includes Bogibeel Bridge, Agartala-Sabroom New Line, Rangiya-Murkongselek Gauge Conversion, Jiribam-Imphal New Line, and others.
* **Government Initiatives for Project Implementation:**
* Gati Shakti units, project prioritization, increased funding, delegated powers, monitoring, and coordination with state governments.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **Ministry of Railways:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for project planning, funding, execution, and monitoring. Accountable for addressing delays and ensuring efficient project delivery.
* *Action Required:* Continue to implement initiatives for speedy project approval and execution, address reasons for delays, and maintain communication with stakeholders.
* **State Governments (Specifically Assam):**
* *Impact:* Required to cooperate in land acquisition, granting clearances, and resolving local issues that impact project timelines.
* *Action Required:* Expedite land acquisition, provide necessary clearances, and ensure a favorable environment for project execution.
* **NF Railway Divisions (Rangiya, Lumding, Tinsukia):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for the on-the-ground implementation of railway projects, including ROB/RUB construction and track laying.
* *Action Required:* Manage project execution, coordinate with contractors and state authorities, and address local challenges to ensure timely completion.
* **General Public/Road Users:**
* *Impact:* Benefit from improved railway infrastructure, reduced congestion at level crossings, and enhanced safety.
* *Action Required:* Be aware of ongoing construction activities and cooperate with authorities during project implementation.
Key Entities Referenced
Assam: A state in the North East Region of India, where several railway projects are located.
Rangiya Division: A railway division in Assam under Northeast Frontier Railway.
Lumding Division: A railway division in Assam under Northeast Frontier Railway.
Tinsukia Division: A railway division in Assam under Northeast Frontier Railway.
Northeast Frontier Railway: A Zonal Railway in India responsible for rail transport in the North East Region.
Ashwini Vaishnaw: Minister of Railways, Information Broadcasting and Electronics Information Technology.
Saraighat: Location of a new rail-cum-road bridge project, specifically the Agthori-Kamakhya section.
Agthori-Kamakhya section: A railway section where a doubling project with a new rail-cum-road bridge at Saraighat is proposed.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1821
TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.07.2025
RAILWAY PROJECTS FOR ASSAM
1821. SHRI PHANI BHUSAN CHOUDHURY:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the number of Railway level crossings in Rangia,
Lumding and Tinsukia Division in Assam under Northeast-Frontier
(NF) Railway;
(b) the number of unmanned level crossing and ROB’s already
constructed/being under Construction out of the aforesaid railway
crossings in the said division in Assam;
(c) whether the Government proposes to construct new ROB’s in
Rangia, Lumding and Tinsukia Division in Assam, if so, the details
thereof;
(d) the details of railway projects currently under construction in NF
Railway including projects name, length, original cost, revised cost,
original date of completion and anticipated date of completion,
project-wise;
(e) the details of the reasons of delay, project-wise;
(f) the details of new projects in pipeline along with estimated cost
under the jurisdiction of NF Railway; and
(g) the present status of proposed Agthori-Kamakhya section with
the construction of new rail-cum-road bridge at Saraighat?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (g) : All Unmanned level crossings (UMLCs) on running lines of
Broad Gauge (BG) network of Indian Railways have been eliminated
by 31.01.2019. As on 01.04.2025, there are 306 Nos. Manned LevelCrossing (MLCs) in Rangiya, 204 Nos. in Lumding and 278 Nos. in
Tinsukia divisions.
Sanctioning of works of Road over Bridge (ROB)/Road under
Bridge (RUB) in lieu of Level crossings (LCs) is a continuous and
dynamic process of Indian Railway. Such works are prioritised and
taken up on the basis of its impact on safety in train operations,
mobility of trains & impact for road users and feasibility etc.
No. of ROBs/ RUBs constructed on Indian Railways during the
period 2004-14 vis a vis 2014-25 (June’25) is as under:
Period ROBs/ RUBs constructed
2004-14 4,148 Nos.
2014-25 (June’25) 13,426 Nos.
As on 01.04.2025, 4,402 Nos. ROBs/ RUBs are sanctioned at the
cost of ₹ 1,00,860 Cr on Indian Railways including 61 Nos. Road Over
Bridge (ROB)/Road Under Bridge (RUB) at the cost of ₹ 1,288 crore in
the State of Assam, which are at various stages of planning and
execution.
During 2014-25 (June’25), 325 Nos. ROBs/RUBs have been
completed in the State of Assam. Presently, details of sanctioned
works of ROBs/RUBs in Rangia, Lumding and Tinsukia divisions are
as under:-
SN Division ROBs/RUBs (Nos.) Status
1 Rangia 26 These works are at various
2 Lumding 9 stages of planning and execution.
3 Tinsukia 34Completion & commissioning of ROB/RUB works depends on
various factors like cooperation of State Governments in giving
consent for closure of LC, fixing of approach alignment, approval of
General Arrangement Drawing (GAD), land acquisition, removal of
encroachment, shifting of infringing utilities, statutory clearances
from various authorities, law and order situation in the area of
project / work sites, duration of working season in a year for the
particular project / area due to climatic conditions etc. All these
factors affect the completion time of the projects / works.
Railway projects are sanctioned on the basis of
remunerativeness, traffic projections, last mile connectivity, missing
links and alternate routes, augmentation of congested/saturated
lines, demands raised by State Governments, Central Ministries,
Members of Parliament, other public representatives, Railway’s own
operational requirement, socio-economic considerations etc.
depending upon throwforward of ongoing projects and overall
availability of funds.
As on 01.04.2025, 12 Railway projects (08 New Line and 04
Doubling), of total length of 777 km costing ₹69,342 crore falling
fully/partly in the North East Region including the state of Assam are
sanctioned, out of which 278 km length has been commissioned and
an expenditure of ₹ 41,676 crore has been incurred upto March 2025.
These include:-
Plan No. of Total Length Exp upto
Head projec Length Commissioned March 2025
ts (in Km) (in Km) (₹ in Cr.)
New
08 448 113 38,078
Lines
Doubling 04 329 165 3,598
Total 12 777 278 41,676Commissioning of infrastructure projects falling fully/partly in the
North East Region including the state of Assam, is given below:-
Period New Track Average Commissioning of
Commissioned new tracks
2009-14 333 Km 66.6 Km/year
2014-25 1840 Km 167.27 Km/year (Nearly 3
times )
Average Budget allocation for Infrastructure projects and other
works, falling fully/ partly in North East Region including the state of
Assam, is as under:-
Period Outlay
2009-14 ₹2,122 Crore/year
2025-26 ₹10,440 (Nearly 5 times)
The work for construction of 2nd Saraighat Rail cum Road Bridge has
been sanctioned. Tender for taking up the work has been invited.
Details of some of the recently completed projects falling fully/partly
in North East Region including the State of Assam, are as under:-
S.No. Name of the Project Cost (₹ In
crore)
1. Bogibeel Bridge with linked New Line (92 Km) 5,820
2. Agartala – Sabroom New Line (112 Km) 3,170
3. Agartala – Akhaura New Line (5 Km) 865
4. Rangiya – Murkongselek Gauge Conversion 3,019
(510 Km)
5. Kumarghat – Agartala Gauge Conversion (109 1,242
Km)
6. Katakhal – Bhairabi Gauge Conversion (84 348
Km)
7. Lumding – Badarpur – Silchar & Badarpur – 6,500
Kumarghat Gauge Conversion (412 Km)8. Lumding to Hojai Doubling (45 Km) 410
9. Digaru – Hojai Doubling (102 Km) 1,873
10. New Bongaigaon – Agthori via Rangiya 2,048
Doubling (143 Km)
11. Bairabi-Sairang New Line (52 Km) 8,601
Further, some of the main projects falling fully/Partly in North East
Region including the State of Assam, which have been taken up, are
as under:-
S.No. Name of the project Cost
(₹ In crore)
1 Jiribam – Imphal New Line (111 Km) 18,562
2 Dimapur – Zubza (Kohima) New Line (83 Km) 6,663
3 Sivok – Rangpo New Line (45 Km) 12,133
4 Murkongselek – Pasighat New Line (26 Km) 984
5 New Bongaigaon – Golpara - Guwahati Doubling 1,832
(176 Km.)
6 Kamakhya - Guwahati 3rd Line (6 Km.) 395
7 Lumding - Furkating Doubling (140 Km.) 2,124
8 Agthori - Kamakhya Doubling with New Rail cum 1,474
Road Bridge at Sarighat (7 Km.)
Various steps taken by the Government for speedy approval
and implementation of Railway projects include (i) setting up of Gati
Shakti units (ii) prioritisation of projects (iii) substantial increase in
allocation of funds on priority projects (iv) delegation of powers at
field level (v) close monitoring of progress of project at various
levels, and (vi) regular follow up with State Governments and
concerned authorities for expeditious land acquisition, forestry and
Wildlife clearances and for resolving other issues pertaining to
projects. This has led to substantial increase in rate of
commissioning since 2014.
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