The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has decided to conduct infrastructural development works at Rangapani, the first station located on the southern side of New Jalpaiguri.

Located under the Katihar division of NFR, Rangapani hit the headlines on June 17 this year when a goods train dashed into the rear of Calcutta-bound Kanchanjunga Express, killing 10 people and injuring others.

Wagons of two goods trains – oil tankers – had derailed at the station on July 31 andAugust 16.

Such recurring incidents have led to questions about the condition of the tracks and the signalling system in and around the station.

K. K. Sharma, the chief public relations officer of NFR, said they will take up certain upgrades at Rangapani. Among these include improvements of the track and signalling arrangements, including improvement to the NRL siding, an essential private freight terminal used to handle the loading of petroleum oil and lubricants ingoods trains.

“NFR will carry out some changes at the main station yard in Rangapani. These include modifications to points and crossingarrangements. Four new points will be introduced which will help in the safety and efficiency of train movement and reduce detention of trains in Rangapani and NJP,” he said.

Points are movable sections in the rail track that allow trains to move from one line to another.

“Also, an electronic interlocking system with computer-based VDU (visual display unit) panels is being introduced at Rangapani for better train operations,” theCPRO added.

Sources said NFR is laying an additional track in the Rangapani yard to improve the loading and unloadingof goods.

“The revenue from the main yard and the NRL terminal are on the rise atRangapani. The improvement of infrastructurewill augment the earnings in due course,” said a railwayofficial.