AIZAWL, June 28: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the much-awaited 51.38-km Bairabi-Sairang broad gauge railway line, a transformative infrastructure project that will connect Mizoram’s capital, Aizawl, to the national railway network for the first time. The announcement was made by officials of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) on Saturday.
With final safety clearance from the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), Sumeet Singhal, granted earlier this month, the line is ready for inauguration. “The line is ready with the approval from the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), and very soon, it will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” an NFR spokesperson confirmed.
The Bairabi-Sairang line will make Mizoram the fourth northeastern state with its capital city linked by rail, following Assam, Tripura, and Arunachal Pradesh. The line, hailed as an engineering feat, was constructed across one of the most rugged and geologically challenging terrains in the country, at a revised cost of ₹5,021.45 crore.
The project features remarkable infrastructure, including 48 tunnels spanning 12.85 km, 55 major bridges, 87 minor bridges, five road overbridges, and nine road underbridges. One of its standout structures, Bridge No. 196, rises to a height of 104 metres—42 metres taller than Delhi’s Qutub Minar.
Once operational, passengers will be able to travel by train to Aizawl via Silchar, experiencing the breathtaking landscapes of Mizoram’s rolling hills and dense forests. Known as the “Land of the Hill People,” the state is expected to benefit significantly from the increased connectivity.
“The new line will not only bring benefits to the people of Mizoram through improved transportation and accessibility, but also enhance regional mobility and boost tourism,” said the NFR. The railway is also expected to stimulate commercial activity, create employment opportunities, and foster the growth of small businesses around railway stations and logistics hubs.
The line’s completion marks a significant milestone in Prime Minister Modi’s Act East Policy and vision for enhanced connectivity and development in the Northeast. It was first envisioned over a decade ago, with PM Modi having unveiled the foundation plaque remotely at Maligaon Railway Stadium on November 29, 2014.
Commissioned in four phases, from Bairabi to Sairang between July 2024 and June 2025, the project has been a long-standing aspiration for Mizoram’s people. Its upcoming inauguration will not only symbolize a new era of rail connectivity but also underscore the Centre’s commitment to inclusive development in the farthest corners of India.
