Dispur holds emergency crisis meet to fix Barak Valley’s crumbling rail and road links

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 11, 2025

In response to ongoing transportation challenges in the Barak Valley, an emergency meeting was convened on Friday by the Barak Valley Development Department. Cabinet ministers Nandita Garlosa and Kaushik Roy chaired the high-level discussion aimed at resolving persistent issues with connectivity in the region.

The meeting brought together key stakeholders, including senior officials from the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).

A major point of concern was the recurring landslides along the Lumding–Badarpur railway line under the Lumding division. Officials reviewed the current status of rehabilitation efforts and emphasized the urgency of implementing long-term landslide prevention measures. The ministers also stressed the need to restore regular passenger train services between Silchar and Guwahati and normalize traffic along the Jatinga–Harangajao stretch in Dima Hasao district.

In addition to rail connectivity, road infrastructure challenges were also addressed. The meeting reviewed the progress of the East-West Corridor construction between Jatinga and Harangajao, discussed the condition and routine maintenance of key roads, and assessed the ongoing repair work of the critical Gemon Bridge.

Present at the meeting were Barak Valley Development Secretary Adil Khan, NFR Additional General Manager Bir Bhadra Biswakarma, Chief Track Engineer Yogesh Verma, NHIDCL Executive Director Riten Kumar Singh, Senior Director Suraj Kumar, and NHAI Deputy Manager Tushar P. Biswas, among others.

The ministers called for coordinated and time-bound action from all agencies to restore and upgrade Barak Valley’s vital communication links, which are essential for the region’s economic stability and public mobility.