Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the detailed project reports (DPR) have been prepared for two proposed new railway lines in Assam, the Agthori (Guwahati)–Dekargaon (Tezpur) line of 129 km and the Dekargaon (Tezpur)–Silghat line of 25 km. Replying to a question in Lok Sabha, the minister said the sanctioning of these projects requires consultations with stakeholders and approvals from agencies such as NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Finance, and therefore, timelines for implementation will depend on the outcome of these processes. Tezpur is currently served by Dekargaon railway station, which is connected by six pairs of passenger train services, including express, intercity and passenger trains linking the region with Guwahati and other parts of Assam.
To improve passenger amenities and rail infrastructure, the Ministry has launched the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme with a long-term approach to station redevelopment. The scheme focuses on improving station access, buildings, waiting areas, platforms, foot overbridges, lifts, escalators, passenger information systems, facilities for Divyangjans, parking, multimodal integration and promotion of local products.
So far, out of 1,337 stations identified nationwide for development, 50 stations are located in Assam. Redevelopment works are progressing well, with Haibargaon station already completed and major works underway at stations such as Rangapara North Junction, Majbat, Viswanath Chariali and Fakiragram Junction. The station redevelopment on Indian Railways is a continuous process, involving safety considerations and statutory clearances, and completion timelines depend on site-specific challenges and availability of funds.
Further, development / upgradation / modernization of stations including Amrit Bharat Station Scheme is generally funded under Plan Head-53 ‘Customer Amenities’. The details of allocation and expenditure under Plan Head-53 are maintained Zonal Railway-wise and not work-wise or station-wise or state-wise. Under Plan Head-53 for Customer Amenities, Rs 435 crore has been allocated for the Northeast Frontier Railway in the current year, with Rs 365 crore spent up to December 2025, the minister said.
