Salasar Techno Engineering Limited has completed physical execution of the Lumding–Badarpur Hill Section railway electrification project in Assam under the Northeast Frontier Railway. The work was carried out for RITES Limited under a contract worth ₹170 crore and formed the final stretch enabling the Ministry of Railways to announce 100% railway electrification across Assam in September 2026.
The project covered 172 route kilometres and 228 track kilometres through mountainous terrain prone to landslides and cloudbursts. The work involved constructing foundations, installing traction masts and overhead high-voltage lines, and commissioning associated power infrastructure across difficult hill sections.
Salasar also commissioned two traction substations at Langting and Haflong, along with eight switching stations to support the supply and distribution of electricity along the corridor. The project required construction in narrow mountain stretches with limited clearance and challenging access.
Execution and commissioning were completed in phases, allowing sections to be handed over as they became ready. The 54-track-kilometre Lumding–Langting stretch cleared safety inspections and locomotive trial runs in May 2023. The 51-track-kilometre Chandranathpur–Badarpur section and the 32-track-kilometre Langting–Maibong stretch received safety certification in March 2024.
In August 2026, the Northeast Frontier Railway began operating electric goods trains on the Lumding, Langting and Maibong sections. Electrical Inspector to Government clearances for the Bandarkhal and Jatinga Lampur switching stations were secured on July 30 and August 5, 2026, respectively.
The Lumding–Badarpur Hill Section is an important broad-gauge freight corridor connecting the Barak Valley, Mizoram, Tripura and parts of Manipur with the rest of India. The shift from diesel to electric locomotives is expected to reduce emissions along the route while supporting more efficient freight movement and strategic transport.
Shashank Agarwal, Managing Director of Salasar Techno Engineering Limited, said the project presented engineering and execution challenges, particularly on landslide-prone slopes and during safety clearances. He thanked RITES and the Northeast Frontier Railway for their support and said the completion would contribute to cleaner and more reliable railway operations in the region.
Salasar Techno Engineering is an engineering, procurement and construction company with manufacturing and project capabilities across telecommunications, power transmission and distribution, railways, renewable energy and customised steel structures. The company continues to undertake infrastructure projects across multiple sectors, supported by its engineering and manufacturing operations.
