Mizoram on track: PM Modi to inaugurate state’s first railway line

AIZAWL — Mizoram is all set to script history as it finally finds a place on India’s railway map. The much-awaited Bairabi–Sairang railway line in Mizoram will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 13.

The 51.38 km-long Bairabi-Sairang railway is being constructed at a cost of INR 8071 crore. The project is set to transform connectivity, boost the economy and unlock new opportunities for one of India’s most remote states.

The Bairabi–Sairang rail route cuts through some of the toughest terrains in the Northeast. It features an impressive 153 bridges measuring 11.78 km. It also features 88 minor bridges including 88 minor bridges.

Additionally, the project consists of 10 road over bridges (ROB) and road under bridges (RUB). It also features 55 major bridges.

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Besides, there are 45 tunnels with total length of 15.885 km (31%), the longest tunnel measuring 1.868 km. It also boasts of India’s second-tallest pier bridge standing at 114 metres—taller than Delhi’s Qutub Minar. The tallest pier bridge is in Noney district of Manipur.

The line will directly connect Mizoram’s capital, Aizawl, with India’s national railway grid for the very first time. The newly-built Sairang Railway Station, located just 12 kilometres from Aizawl, will serve as the state’s main rail hub with two platforms, three tracks and modern amenities.

This was informed by the NFR’s Public Relation Officer, Nilanjan Deb, to the visiting journalists from the northeast region at Sairang railway station on September 8. It may be mentioned here that journalists from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Mizoram were present during the briefing.

Deb informed that Prime Minister Modi will flag-off three trains, including the Rajdhani Express and other local services between Kolkata and Guwahati on September 13.

Deb expressed confidence that the ‘historic’ link will transform connectivity, boost trade and accelerate development in Mizoram and the Northeast region.

With Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura and Mizoram already connected with railhead to the state capitals in the northeast, Deb disclosed that Indian Railway is making all efforts to link Imphal by 2028 and Kohima in Nagaland by 2029.

It may be mentioned here that the final stretch of the Bairabi-Sairang new railway line was thoroughly inspected by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), Northeast Frontier Circle between June 6 and the 10th. It marked a significant milestone as it completed the entire 51.38km rail line, thereby paving the way for direct rail connectivity to Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram, for the first time.

With the commissioning of the new line, Deb informed that travel time would be reduced to about three hours, thereby bringing in massive relief to the residents of the state.

The connectivity is expected to reduce travel time between Guwahati and Aizawl from 18 hours by road to 12 hours by rail. Additionally, it would take three hours to reach Silchar from Aizawl.