In a significant development for Mizoram, the state's capital city, Aizawl, is set to become the fourth northeastern capital city to gain railway connectivity by July next year. This milestone will join Assam's Guwahati, Tripura's Agartala, and Arunachal Pradesh's Naharlagun in the region's railway network. Officials from Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) have announced that a new Broad Gauge line is under construction in the Bairabi (near Assam's Hailakandi District) to Sairang (52 km) section in Mizoram's Aizawl District. “The Rs 8,213.72 crore Bairabi-Sairang railway project is on track to be commissioned in July 2025,” stated a senior NFR official. At present, 93 percent of the project's physical work is completed. The railway line will feature four stations: Hortoki, Kawnpui, Mualkhang, and Sairang, spanning four sections: Bairabi–Hortoki, Hortoki–Kawnpui, Kawnpui–Mualkhang, and Mualkhang–Sairang. An NFR team, led by Chief Engineer (Construction) Vinod Kumar, recently briefed Mizoram Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati on the project's progress. Governor Kambhampati highlighted the benefits of the railway project, noting it will significantly reduce transportation costs and travel time between Aizawl and neighboring Assam by at least three to four hours.
Approved by the Union government in 2008-2009 at an initial cost of Rs 2,384.34 crore as a national project, the Bairabi-Sairang railway line commenced construction in 2015. Despite challenges, including tough terrains and heavy monsoons, the revised timeline for its completion is set for November 2023. Chief Public Relations Officer of the NFR, Sabyasachi De, explained that the construction involves multiple tunnels and bridges in difficult terrains. "The total length of tunnels in this project is 12,853 meters, of which 12,807 meters have been completed. The project will have 55 major bridges and 89 minor bridges, with 47 major bridges and 87 minor bridges already completed." Despite hurdles such as limited working seasons, difficult hilly terrains, poor accessibility, and a scarcity of construction materials and skilled labor, the NFR is committed to the project's timely completion. The new rail line is expected to enhance connectivity, boost local industries and tourism, and significantly reduce transportation costs for passengers and goods. The completion of the Bairabi-Sairang railway project marks a significant step forward in Mizoram's infrastructure development, promising economic growth and improved accessibility for the state's population.
