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Railways Allocates ₹11,486 Crore for Northeast, Unveils Major Rail Upgrades

Indian Railways has earmarked ₹11,486 crore for Assam and the Northeastern states for 2026-27, marking a fivefold increase since 2014. The region has seen the launch of its first Vande Bharat Sleeper train and new Amrit Bharat Express services. A major future plan includes extending the proposed Varanasi-Siliguri bullet train corridor to Guwahati. Significant progress has been made on electrification, new tracks, and safety systems like Kavach across the Northeast.

Key Points: ₹11,486 Cr Rail Boost for Assam, NE: Vande Bharat, Bullet Train Plans

  • ₹11,486 crore allocation for 2026-27
  • Vande Bharat Sleeper launched on Kamakhya-Howrah route
  • Bullet train corridor proposed to Guwahati
  • 98% rail electrification achieved in Assam
2 min read

Indian Railways allocates Rs 11,486 crore for Assam and Northeast in 2026-27

Indian Railways allocates ₹11,486 crore for NE, launches Vande Bharat Sleeper, plans bullet train extension to Guwahati, and fast-tracks electrification.

"reflecting a fivefold increase compared to 2014 - Official Report"

Maligaon, February 2

The Indian Railways has allocated Rs 11,486 crore for Assam and the North Eastern states, reflecting a fivefold increase compared to 2014 and reaffirming its commitment to faster, safer and future-ready rail connectivity across the region, stated an official report on Monday.

According to an official statement from Indian Railways, a massive infrastructure push is underway in Assam and the Northeast with Rs 72,468 crore worth of railway projects currently in progress and surveys for new railway lines are being conducted to further expand the network, while rail connectivity to Bhutan from Kokrajhar to Gelephu (69 Km) is being planned.

The Railways project has resumed, and works in Sikkim and Nagaland are also progressing at a fast rate, significantly improving regional and international connectivity, as mentioned in the report.

The launch of the nation's first Vande Bharat Sleeper train services on the Kamakhya-Howrah route, connecting Assam and West Bengal on 17th January 2026, is the most significant infrastructure development in Assam, said the report.

The very next day marked another proud moment with the commencement of Assam's first Amrit Bharat Express train services--Guwahati (Kamakhya)-Rohtak and Dibrugarh-Lucknow (Gomti Nagar), the statement added.

During the inauguration of Vande Bharat Sleeper train services and commencement of Assam's first Amrit Bharat Express train services, the Varanasi - Siliguri via Patna bullet train corridor has been proposed, with plans to extend it up to Guwahati in the future, bringing the Northeast onto India's high-speed rail network, as highlighted in the statement.

The statement also highlighted that the Railway network expansion and electrification have accelerated across Assam and the North East under NFR, since 2014. About 1900 km of new tracks have been laid, while five NE states are fully electrified and Assam has achieved 98% electrification, with 2,839 km electrified across the region.

Additionally, 502 flyovers and underpasses have been built and the Kavach safety system has been sanctioned for 1197 km, with works in progress on 235 km, the statement added further.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Great to see the focus on safety with Kavach being implemented. 502 flyovers/underpasses is no small feat. Hope this reduces travel time significantly. My family in Dibrugarh will be thrilled about the new Lucknow connection.
R
Rohit P
While the allocation is impressive, execution is key. We've seen projects in the NE face delays due to terrain and other issues. Hope this time the deadlines are met. The proposed bullet train extension to Guwahati sounds like a dream, but let's first complete the ongoing projects efficiently.
M
Meera T
Electrification of 98% in Assam! This is a massive green leap forward. Better for the environment and will make trains faster and more reliable. Connecting to Bhutan is also a strategic masterstroke for regional trade. Proud moment for the entire region.
D
David E
As someone who travels to Assam for work, this is very promising. The current network can be slow. New tracks and high-speed proposals will integrate the Northeast with the national economy much better. The safety focus is commendable.
S
Sneha F
Finally! Better rail links mean students like me won't have to rely only on expensive flights to come home from other states. The Guwahati-Rohtak Amrit Bharat Express will be a direct blessing for so many. Hope the fares remain reasonable. 🤞

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