The Indian Railways has made notable progress in infrastructure development and recruitment in the Northeast, supported by increased budget allocations and expedited project implementation. A survey for the proposed 136-km Jogighopa-Guwahati railway line via Barpetta and Sarthebari has been completed, but the project has not progressed due to low traffic projections. Over the past three years, 21 surveys covering 2,499 km—including 17 for new lines and four for doubling—have been sanctioned in the Northeast, including Assam. As of April 1, 2024, 18 railway projects (13 new lines and five doubling projects) spanning 1,368 km, with a total cost of Rs 749.72 million, are at various stages of implementation. Of this, 313 km has been commissioned, with Rs 405.49 million spent by March 2024. The government has taken multiple steps to accelerate railway projects, including setting up Gati Shakti units, prioritising key projects, increasing fund allocation, decentralising decision-making, and closely monitoring progress. Improved coordination with state governments has also helped expedite land acquisition and regulatory clearances, leading to a faster rate of project completion since 2014. Railway recruitment has also seen a significant boost. Since the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, Indian Railways has successfully conducted two major recruitment exams for over 23.7 million candidates, leading to the selection of 1,30,581 individuals. No cases of malpractice or paper leaks were reported during the process. To enhance transparency and efficiency, the Railways introduced an annual recruitment calendar in 2024, ensuring predictable exam schedules and faster hiring. Ten Centralized Employment Notifications (CENs) were issued in 2024 to fill 92,116 vacancies across various positions, including Assistant Loco Pilots, Technicians, Sub-Inspectors, Constables, Junior Engineers, and Non-Technical Popular Categories. Four Computer-Based Tests (CBTs) were conducted between November and December 2024, with additional exams ongoing for RPF constables and the second stage of ALP recruitment. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw provided these updates in a written reply to the Lok Sabha, highlighting the government’s commitment to strengthening railway infrastructure and workforce development in the Northeast and beyond. (PIB)