Indian Railways Suspended Historic Dibru-Sadiya Railway Route Sparking Widespread Outrage.

Doomdooma; May 2026: The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) administration under the aegis of Indian Railways has reportedly withdrawn the regular DEMU passenger train services bearing numbers 75904/75905 operating between Dibrugarh and Dangari from 01st May 2026 (International Workers’ Day).

Constructed by the Assam Railway and Trading Company between 1881 and 1882 from Dibrugarh to Saikhowaghat, the historic Dibru-Sadiya railway line now known as the Makum-Saikhowa route is regarded as the oldest railway corridor in the Northeast.

The decision has already triggered sharp criticism from various quarters, who alleged that the historic railway line has been deliberately neglected despite massive investments by the Centre in railway infrastructure modernisation across the country, alongwith brewing strong resentment across Upper Assam following the suspension of passenger train services on the historic Dibru-Sadiya railway route, with student bodies, rail passengers’ associations and local residents warning of an agitation if services are not restored immediately.

Critics alleged that senior railway officials posted in the Tinsukia Railway Division from outside the State have systematically undermined the importance of the heritage rail route. Public anger has intensified in the Sadiya, Doomdooma, Makum and Digboi Assembly constituencies of Tinsukia district.

Leaders of the Assam Rail Passengers’ Association and several organisations have accused railway authorities of halting the service without issuing any public notification. The Dangari and Doomdooma regional units of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) have also come down heavily on the railway administration, warning of renewed democratic protests if services are not resumed without delay.

AASU leaders asserted that the heritage of the historic railway route must be preserved and rail connectivity restored in the greater public interest. Sources said local residents are preparing to launch a mass movement and may gherao the office of the Divisional Railway Manager of the Tinsukia Railway Division in protest against the suspension of services. The agitating organisations have further demanded extension of the railway line from Dangari towards the old Saikhowaghat area near the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park. They have also called for restoration of rail connectivity from Dangari through Dibrugarh up to Jorhat Town and the establishment of a full-fledged rail-way terminal near Saikhowaghat in future.

Earlier, in February 2025, 06 stations on the historic Dibru-Sadiya railway line under the Tinsukia division of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) have been closed. In response to a written question by Divisional Railway Users Consultative Committee (DRUCC) member Mulendra Moran, the divisional railway manager (DRM) of Tinsukia division, Uttam Prakash Yadav, stated in his reply that the six stations on the 143 years old historic Dibru-Sadiya railway line – Talap, Rupai Siding, Doomdooma, Hansara and Borhapjan – have been closed.

The DRM had held a meeting with the members of the DRUCC on January 29th 2025 at the conference hall of his office. The meeting was attended by DRUCC member Mulendra Moran who made seven recommendations on improving the infrastructure of the Dibru-Sadiya railway line.

These seven recommendations were as follows:

• the old nameplate of the Makum-Saikhowa railway line under the Tinsukia railway division, built by the Assam Railway and Trading Company in 1881-82, should be retained as the Dibru-Sadiya railway line;

• a TVU (train vehicle unit) survey should be conducted on this historic railway line along with appointment of gatemen at required crossing gates and removal of unnecessary railway crossing gates;

• DEMU train no. 07904/07905 (permanent no. 75904/75903) running between Tinsukia and Dangari should be extended to Jorhat Town Railway Station via Dibrugarh Town Station, which will generate revenue for the railway exchequer and provide local train services to the passengers;

• reconstruction of the six abandoned railway stations of Dangari, Talap, Rupai Siding, Doomdooma, Hansara and Borhapjan of Tinsukia railway division along with appointment of station masters in these stations;

• long-distance rail services should be provided to the citizens of Sadiya, Doomdooma and Makum LACs from Dan-gari Railway Station under Tinsukia railway division;

• construction of a railway terminus at Dangari; and work on the proposed railway project from Rupai Siding to Parashuram Kund in Arunachal Pradesh should be started soon.

The services in this historic section appears to have faced the red-eyed glare of the Indian Railways authorities as in January 2022 – services of 75911/75912 DEMU train running between Tinsukia Jn and Dangri were suspended as a transfer order of its gang staff was issued by the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Tinsukia Division on December 21st 2021. This action of the DRM, Tinsukia Division raised huge repercussions among the commuters. Consequently, the Dangri unit of All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) staged a sit-in at Dangri Railway station on December 18 last and again on January 13, on the day of Uruka.

Team Maverick.