Guwahati, Jan 4 (NationPress) The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has set new standards in railway workshop modernisation with the enhancement of its New Bongaigaon workshop located in western Assam, as reported by railway officials on Sunday.

The Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of NFR, Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, stated that the railway zone accomplished significant infrastructure and operational milestones at the New Bongaigaon workshop throughout December 2025. He emphasized that the New Bongaigaon workshop has reaffirmed its commitment to modernisation, operational efficiency, and excellence in rolling stock maintenance, in line with Indian Railways’ broader reform and upgrade initiatives.

Adding to this achievement, the C&W Workshop at New Bongaigaon was awarded the Ministry of Railway, Rajbhasha Shield along with a cash prize of Rs 14,000 by the Railway Board for exceptional execution of Rajbhasha during 2024, marking a moment of pride for NFR.

According to Sharma, in December (2025), the New Bongaigaon Workshop also created an indigenous test bench for the assembled DEMU DPC bogies, facilitating pre-installation assessment of traction motors and prompt identification of defects. This system includes mandatory one-hour run tests, real-time monitoring of vibrations and bearing temperatures, and accurate backlash measurement using high-precision dial gauges, which substantially reduces time and manpower, he noted.

The Mid-Life Rehabilitation (MLR) of LHB coaches has been successfully initiated at the New Bongaigaon Workshop, following the allocation of a Rolling Stock Programme for 25 coaches.

Sharma mentioned that through effective planning and optimal resource utilization, interim arrangements were established by utilizing the old Coach Lifting Shop (CLS) after transferring ICF Periodic Overhauling (POH) activities to the new Light Coach Repair Shop (LCRS). These proactive steps have facilitated the smooth initiation of MLR activities, while a proposal for a dedicated MLR shed is under consideration to bolster long-term maintenance infrastructure.

The official indicated that NFR has successfully transitioned all POH activities of DEMU rakes from the old Wagon Paint Shop to a newly established DEMU shed at the New Bongaigaon Workshop. Developed as part of the 2021-22 infrastructure enhancement initiatives, this modern covered facility has improved operational efficiency, streamlined workflows, and enhanced safety and productivity, further strengthening rolling stock maintenance capabilities.

These achievements highlight the Northeast Frontier Railway’s ongoing focus on infrastructure, innovation, and operational efficiency, reinforcing the commitment to safe and reliable railway operations, as stated by the NFR CPRO.