The launch of the Dibrugarh–Gomtinagar–Dibrugarh Amrit Bharat Express has injected a fresh wave of optimism into the Northeast, following a special ceremony held on January 18 at the Diphu Railway Station. The event marked a major milestone in India’s ongoing efforts to bolster transport infrastructure and improve accessibility for remote regions.
The inaugural journey of this non-AC Amrit Bharat Express, a train envisioned under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was officially flagged off through video conferencing by the Prime Minister himself. The ceremony at Diphu, organized under the supervision of the Divisional Railway Manager of the Lumding Division (Northeast Frontier Railway), began at approximately 6:00 PM, drawing a significant crowd of passengers, railway officials, and local dignitaries.
The Amrit Bharat Express represents a noteworthy upgrade in long-distance travel for the region. Despite being a non-AC service, the train incorporates several modern features typically reserved for premium categories. These include ergonomically designed seating, fully interconnected coaches, and a powerful twin-engine setup to enhance operational safety and reliability. Additional features such as semi-automatic couplers, sealed gangways, fire detection systems, and talk-back units further elevate passenger safety, setting new standards for non-AC coaches in the Indian Railways network.
The weekly service, operating as Train No. 15949 from Dibrugarh, links Assam’s upper region with Gomti Nagar in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Its route passes through multiple states—Assam, Nagaland, West Bengal, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh—and includes halts at strategically important stations such as Diphu, Lumding, Dimapur, and Guwahati. The service is expected to significantly reduce travel difficulties while providing an affordable and comfortable option for long-distance commuters.
The Diphu ceremony drew the participation of notable figures including Lok Sabha MP Amarsing Tisso, who attended as the guest of honour, along with Diphu MLA Bidyasing Engleng, KAAC Executive Member Ritesh Enghee, AK Pandey (Railway ADM, Lumding), and Abhijit Das (APRO, Dimapur). Their presence underscored the regional importance of the new service, especially for districts such as Karbi Anglong that depend heavily on reliable rail connectivity for economic and social mobility.
