GUWAHATI:
To enhance the safety of railway tracks and provide safer travel to rail passengers, Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) registered a record progress rate in Rail and Sleeper Renewal during the 2021-22 fiscal.
NF Railway achieved remarkable progress of 327.65 km of Rail Renewal works in 2021-22 as against 200.29 km done during 2020-21.
This is an increase of 63.59%. Thorough Sleeper Renewal works have been done over a length of 112.98 km in 2021-22, which is also the highest ever progress achieved by NFR. The previous year’s performance was 58.8 km.
Moreover, NF Railway has carried out several more track maintenance works to enhance safety and increase the speed of train running. Turnout renewals of 145.75 equivalent sets have been done in 2021-22 against last year’s performance of 111 equivalent sets. Tamping of 3585 turnouts was done while Track stabilization of 2635.54 Km was completed in 2021-22.
“For smooth operations of trains, 273.44 km plain tracks have been deep screened in 2021-22 against last year’s performance of 177.68 km. Plain track tamping of 6842.98 km has been completed in 2021-22 against a target of 6108.40 Km. A total of 5.03 lakhs cum of ballast supply has been done in 2021-22 against 2.96 lakhs cum supplied last year,” said a senior railway officer.
“18690.62 kilometres of track have been tested by USFD (Ultra Sonic Flaw Detection) machine in 2021-22 against last year’s performance of 16105.79 kilometres. USFD technique is carried out to detect flaws like cracks and timely removal of defective rails for safety. 16 nos. of permanent speed restrictions have also been removed in 2021-22 to enhance speed in train running,” the official said.
NFR is focusing on upgrading track renewal for safe operations of train services. Railway tracks are replaced through track renewal works which is an ongoing process. Track renewal works are undertaken as and when a stretch of the track becomes due for renewal based on set criteria. The process of track renewal with the help of track machines saves time and good quality work can be achieved in the least possible time with minimal effect of normal train movement.