Mizoram’s capital, Aizawl, is set to be connected to India’s railway network within the next nine months as part of the Rs 8,213.72 crore Bairabi-Sairang railway project, according to senior officials from the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR).
The new 51.38 km Broad Gauge line from Bhairabi to Sairang is in its final stages and is expected to be completed by July next year.
During a meeting with Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma, NFR General Manager Arun Kumar Chaudhary confirmed that 93% of the project is already finished. The project will make Aizawl the fourth capital city in Northeast India to gain railway connectivity, following Guwahati, Agartala, and Naharlagun.
NFR’s Chief Public Relations Officer, Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, said that this project would be transformative for Mizoram, enhancing communication and commerce, while also being environmentally friendly. The railway line will pass through four stations - Hortoki, Kawnpui, Mualkhang, and Sairang - and involve 48 tunnels, 55 major bridges, and 87 minor bridges.
Despite challenges such as monsoons, tough terrains, and material shortages, the NFR is pushing forward to meet the deadline. The Bairabi-Sairang railway project, a national initiative, was approved in 2008-2009, with construction beginning in 2015.
In August last year, the project suffered a tragic setback when 24 workers were killed after an under-construction bridge collapsed over the Kurung River. Nonetheless, the NFR remains committed to completing the project, which will provide significant economic benefits for both Mizoram and India.