Northeast Frontier Railway implements landslide defenses and reports high train occupancy

The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) is implementing new measures to combat persistent landslides on the Lumding-Badarpur hill railway section. To stabilize vulnerable tracks and prevent soil erosion caused by heavy monsoon rains, the railway has introduced 1,000 geobags. These geo-textile bags, filled with soil or sand, will be stacked to reinforce weakened slopes and reduce the impact of rainwater. The situation near New Harangajao has already caused disruptions, with soil settlement affecting multiple lines and necessitating regulated train speeds.

Separately, NFR reported high demand for its newly introduced rail services. Between January and July 2026, several Vande Bharat Sleeper and Amrit Bharat train services recorded occupancy rates exceeding 100%. Notable figures include the New Jalpaiguri–Nagercoil service reaching 173% occupancy and the Kamakhya–Howrah Vande Bharat Sleeper service recording up to 126%. Officials stated these figures reflect strong demand and improved connectivity between the Northeast and other regions of India.