After a gap of two weeks, the first goods train chugged through the repaired flood-damaged portion of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) on Tuesday, rail officials here said.
Passenger trains are likely to resume services from September 3.
The train connectivity between mainland India and the northeastern states remained snapped since August 13 after the third wave of floods had damaged the tracks at several locations in the NF Railway, which connects northeastern states with other parts of the country.
NFR's Chief Public Relations Officer Pranav Jyoti Sharma said that the flood damaged portion of track on the Up line along with bridge no 133 between Sudhani and Telta station has been certified fit by the engineering department on Tuesday.
"The first goods train which left Sudhani station at 13.50 p.m. to arrive Telta at 14.25 p.m. passed over that section safely. The portion has been certified fit upto a maximum speed of Stop dead 10 kmph," he said adding that the portion of repaired track will be kept under very close observation under the passage of goods trains and movements of passenger trains will be commenced from September 3.
He said that with the movements of goods trains, the flow of incoming essential commodities to the northeast will be restored.
"The speed restriction will continue and all trains in the affected section will move at restricted speed till such time that permanent repairs are carried out," he added.
Railway officials said that a total of 821 mail and express trains had been suspended during the period followed by 484 passenger trains and the total loss during this period is estimated to be the tune of several crores including Rs. 47.53 crore loss in PRS and commercial loss of Rs. 74.04 crore etc.
--IANS
ah/vd
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
