New Harangajao Railway Sinking Raises Prospect of Alternative Bridge

Haflong, August 27: The Lumding-Badarpur hill section of the railway may face another prolonged disruption as efforts to restore two damaged tracks near New Harangajao continue to encounter difficulties caused by underground water.

Around 200 metres of railway track near New Harangajao station, between New Haflong and New Harangajao, has reportedly sunk in the 118/1-3 km stretch. Train movement on Lines 1 and 2 has remained suspended for more than a month in the interest of passenger safety. At present, limited train services are being operated through Line 3.

According to railway sources, repair work has been continuing on a war footing for more than a month to restore the two affected lines. However, the presence of underground water has made the task increasingly complicated. Attempts were made to restore the tracks by filling the sunken section with soil, but continuous seepage from deeper layers has repeatedly hampered the work.

The railways are now reportedly using piling work to control and drain the underground water and stabilise the affected stretch.

With the monsoon further worsening soil and groundwater conditions in the hilly terrain, railway authorities have so far been unable to give a definite timeline for the full restoration of Lines 1 and 2.

Meanwhile, the Northeast Frontier Railway is also examining a more permanent alternative. Instead of rebuilding the affected section by filling it with soil, authorities are reportedly considering constructing a bridge over the problematic stretch and carrying the railway line across it.

Such an option could provide a more permanent solution by avoiding the unstable underground soil and groundwater conditions. However, construction of a bridge would naturally require considerably more time.

In view of this, railway authorities are reportedly considering continuing a limited number of long-distance trains through Line 3 while undertaking extensive reconstruction work on Lines 1 and 2. Restrictions on train movement may therefore continue for a prolonged period.

Railway sources have also indicated that a ‘mega block’ of around six months cannot be ruled out. Such a long-duration block would allow large-scale reconstruction and stabilisation work to be undertaken at the New Harangajao stretch while keeping railway operations restricted. However, no final decision has yet been taken.

The duration and scale of the proposed block will depend on the nature of the reconstruction work, passenger services and the feasibility of maintaining limited operations through alternative arrangements.

The New Harangajao stretch is strategically important on the Lumding-Badarpur hill section, which provides a vital railway link between the Barak Valley and several parts of the Northeast. Any prolonged disruption is likely to have a direct impact on passenger movement as well as the transportation of essential goods.

For passengers, traders and businesses dependent on the hill railway, the immediate concern is how long the disruption will continue and whether normal services can be restored without a prolonged shutdown.

The crucial question now is whether the underground water problem can be overcome and Lines 1 and 2 restored through conventional soil-filling and stabilisation methods, or whether the railways will ultimately have to adopt the more time-consuming bridge option.

The answer could determine when normal train services will finally return to the New Harangajao stretch.