Agartala, July 4, 2026 — Tripura marked a historic step in its rail transformation on Saturday as Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha flagged off the state’s first Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU) passenger service, the Agartala–Karimganj–Agartala MEMU, from Badharghat Railway Station. Officials said the launch follows completion of electrification across Tripura’s broad-gauge network and makes the state the first in the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) zone to introduce an electric MEMU.
The 12-coach train, with a capacity of about 3,600 passengers, is fitted with CCTV surveillance, GPS tracking, advanced braking systems, automated passenger information displays and an air‑conditioned driver’s cabin. Authorities said these features will deliver faster, safer and more comfortable travel for daily commuters and longer-distance passengers alike.
In his address, Dr. Saha recalled Tripura’s rail journey from the arrival of the first meter-gauge train at Dharmanagar in 1964 to the present broad‑gauge electrification. He credited the central government’s decision to treat rail expansion in the Northeast as a “national project” and highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Act East Policy as a key driver of the region’s accelerated development. Dr. Saha also thanked the Prime Minister and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, noting that electrification from Churaibari to Sabroom has prepared the corridor for future high‑speed services.
Looking ahead, he pointed to the near‑completion of the Agartala–Akhaura rail link with Bangladesh, plans to double the Chandranathpur–Sabroom line, and proposals for new express trains connecting Tripura with Jammu, Puri and Gaya. Dr. Saha said station modernization under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme is under way, with major investments planned for Dharmanagar, Kumarghat, Udaipur and Agartala.
Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury called the inauguration “a new chapter in Tripura’s transport system,” saying the MEMU will make daily travel faster, safer and more convenient for thousands. With electrification, upgraded stations and expansion plans, state and central officials say Tripura is positioning itself as a growing transport hub in India’s Northeast under the Act East Policy.
Original Source: https://tripurachronicle.in/local-news/tripura-takes-a-giant-leap-with-flagging-off-of-nes-first-memu-train-pathway-to-vande-bharat-cm-dr-saha/
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Publish Date: 2026-07-04 14:23:00
