Aizawl: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 51.38km long Bairabi-Sairang broad gauge rail line, which is set to connect Mizoram’s capital Aizawl to the country’s rail network.
“The line is ready with the approval from the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CSR) and very soon, it will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” a Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) official said.
Once operational, people can travel to Aizawl via Silchar by train, enjoying the natural beauty, cultural diversity, rolling hills and dense forests of the state, known as the “Land of the Hill People”.
The safety inspection of the railway line between Hortoki and Sairang was conducted by Sumeet Singhal, commissioner of railway safety (CRS), Northeast Frontier Circle, between June 6 and 10. He submitted his report to the Ministry of Railways on June 11.
Officials said the line establishes Mizoram as the fourth northeastern state with its capital city linked to the national railway network.
Constructed at a revised cost of Rs 5,021.45 crore, the railway overcame engineering challenges in one of India’s most rugged terrains.
According to the NFR, the line has 48 tunnels covering 12.853 km, 55 major and 87 minor bridges, five road overbridges and nine road underbridges, with one of the bridges numbered at 196 boasting a height of 104 metres — 42 metres taller than the Qutub Minar.
“The new line will not only bring benefits to the people of Mizoram through improved transportation and accessibility, but also enhance regional mobility, along with boosting local tourism,” the NFR said.
“The path-breaking operation will also stimulate commercial activities, economic development and strengthen train connectivity across the northeastern states, generating employment opportunities and promoting small-business growth near stations and goods sheds,” it added.
Modi remotely unveiled the plaque for the new rail line from Bairabi to Sairang at a ceremony held at the Maligaon Railway Stadium on November 29, 2014.
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The complete rail line was commissioned in four phases — Bairabi-Hortoki (16.72 km) commissioned in July 2024, Hortoki-Kawnpui (9.71 km) in June 2025, Kawnpui-Mualkhang (12.11 km) in June 2025 and Mualkhang-Sairang (12.84 km) in June 2025.
