The Bairabi – Sairang rail project to connect the north-eastern state of Mizoram to the rest of the country is likely to be completed soon.
The 51.38-km rail line has achieved 91 per cent completion, informed the Ministry of Railways on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter).
First BG Train In 2016
Mizoram, one of the seven sister states of Northeast, is the southernmost landlocked state in the region sharing domestic borders with the states of Assam, Tripura and Manipur and international borders with Bangladesh and Myanmar.
Railways became a reality in Mizoram on 27 May 2016 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi lagged off Silchar-Bairabi daily passenger train. This was done by converting the already existing Silchar-Bairabi meter gauge railway system to broad gauge.
The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) currently runs passenger train services between Silchar in Assam and Bairabi in Mizoram to serve local passengers.
Status Update
Towards its mission to connect all the state capitals of north-eastern region, the NFR Railway is executing the Bairabi-Sairang rail project, which will provide broad gauge connectivity to Mizoram’s capital, Aizawl.
Approved in the fiscal year 2008-09, the Bairabi-Sairang rail line has been designated as a “Project of National Importance.” Upon its completion, this railway line will mark the dawn of a new era in terms of communication and commerce, in the North-eastern region of the country especially in Mizoram.
The project involves construction of four stations, namely, Hortoki, Kawnpui, Mualkhang and Sairang, which is about 20 km from Aizawl, along with 12.85 km of tunnelling work.
As per the status update, while tunneling is completed on 12.71 km stretch, 12 out of 55 major bridges, 85 out of 87 minor bridges and seven out of nine road over bridge/road under bridge are also completed.
The foundation stone of this project was laid down on 29 November 2014 and is set to be completed by March 2024.