Lucknow: The Northeastern Railway’s (NER) Lucknow division has drawn up an ambitious proposal to upgrade the Mailani-Nanpara meter gauge section, one of the country’s few surviving heritage railway lines, with a focus on preservation.Rather than transforming it into a high-capacity corridor, the plan consciously treats the route as a living heritage asset. Stretching across a forested and largely rural landscape, the Mailani-Nanpara section has long been known for its historic character and unique meter gauge operations. In the project, the NER has proposed complete track renewal over nearly 110 km for worth Rs 200 crore, bridge strengthening with Rs 20 crore. Total 13 railway stations will undergo retrofitting and reroofing with Rs 15 crore investment to extend their lifespan while retaining heritage architecture. Level crossings— both manned (30) and unmanned (27)— will be improved through better road widths, fencing and upgraded boom barriers. NER has also proposed to introduce 10 vistadome coaches worth Rs 31 crore and six modern meter gauge trainsets worth Rs 103 crore with an aim to transform the route into a premium heritage tourism experience. Supporting assets like inspection carriages, accident relief trains, maintenance vehicles and diesel locomotives are also planned. Signaling and communication systems, currently mechanical and manpower-intensive, will be strengthened through upgraded mechanical gears, improved block working arrangements, quad cabling and outsourced maintenance to address staff shortages. These changes retain the traditional signaling character while improving reliability. “The new proposal builds on this legacy by focusing on strengthening existing assets instead of introducing new infrastructure. Night operations will continue to remain suspended, goods traffic will be restricted to departmental wagons, and no new residential colonies or large-scale facilities are planned, preserving the line’s low-impact footprint,” DRM Gaurav Agarwal told TOI. Fencing on track between Lucknow and GorakhpurThe Lucknow division of NER will complete fencing along the rail track on both sides between Lucknow and Gorakhpur. On average, 250 cases of cattle runover are reported in the division. Further, redevelopment of 14 stations, including Aishbagh, Badshahnagar, Lucknow City, Daliganj and others, will be completed before Dec.NR Lucknow div posts record revenueNorthern Railway’s Lucknow division recorded Rs 2,626.54 crore revenue surpassing its annual target. Digital income from unreserved ticketing touched Rs 72.37 crore—nearly double the previous year. Train punctuality also improved significantly in 2025-26, rising to 72.17%, with a record 91.40% punctuality achieved on March 5, 2026.
