Mizoram’s first railway line: PM Modi inaugurates Rs 8,070 crore worth Bairabi–Sairang undertaking; Rajdhani flagged off to link Aizawl with national network

PM Modi inaugurates Rs 8,070 crore worth Bairabi–Sairang undertaking (Picture credit score: PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated Mizoram’s first-ever railway line, the Bairabi–Sairang broad-gauge undertaking, marking a historic second within the state’s connectivity journey. Built at a price of Rs 8,070 crore, the 51.38-km line is thought to be probably the most advanced undertakings in Indian Railways’ historical past.

How a 15-year imaginative and prescient became actuality

Sanctioned in 2008-09 and launched for building in 2015, the road options 45 tunnels, 55 main bridges, 87 minor bridges, and ten highway over- and underpasses. Nearly 54% of the alignment passes via tunnels and bridges. Among its most placing constructions is Bridge No. 144 close to Sairang, which at 114 metres stands taller than Delhi’s Qutub Minar, making it the tallest pier railway bridge within the nation, in accordance to the Northeast Frontier Railway. The undertaking additionally added 4 stations — Hortoki, Kawnpui, Mualkhang and Sairang — connecting communities alongside the route.

Why Aizawl’s first rail link is a game-changer

The new route extends connectivity from Bairabi on the Assam–Mizoram border to Sairang, simply 20 km from Aizawl, straight linking the state capital with India’s railway network for the first time. With this, Aizawl turns into the fourth northeastern capital to achieve direct rail entry, after Guwahati, Agartala and Itanagar.

From Aizawl to Delhi: the brand new rail routes unveiled

The Prime Minister additionally flagged off three new long-distance providers: the Sairang–Delhi Rajdhani Express, the Sairang–Guwahati Express, and the Sairang–Kolkata Express. According to Indian Railways, the inaugural Rajdhani left Sairang at 10 am on Saturday to attain Anand Vihar Terminal on September 15. Regular providers will see the prepare depart Sairang each Friday night and return from Delhi each Sunday evening. The Guwahati Express will run day by day from September 13, departing Guwahati at 7 pm and Sairang at 7 pm the following day. The Kolkata Express will function thrice weekly, leaving Kolkata each Saturday, Tuesday and Wednesday and getting back from Sairang each Monday, Thursday and Friday.

Building railways via rocks, rivers and ridges

The Prime Minister’s Office stated the road would offer “safe, efficient and cost-effective travel options,” whereas making certain well timed provides of necessities like meals grains and fertilisers, as per information company PTI. Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw underlined that the undertaking had to overcome “Himalayan geology and complex terrain,” noting that engineers even had to solidify unfastened sand into rock formations earlier than tunnelling may proceed.

What else PM Modi introduced past the railway line

Alongside the rail undertaking, the Prime Minister laid basis stones for a spread of infrastructure works worth over Rs 9,000 crore. These embrace the 45-km Aizawl Bypass Road underneath PM-DevINE, the Thenzawl–Sialsuk Road and the Khankawn–Rongura Road underneath NESIDS, aimed toward easing journey and bettering entry for farmers and merchants. The Thenzawl–Sialsuk Road is anticipated to profit horticulture farmers, dragon fruit growers, paddy cultivators and ginger processors, whereas the Khankawn–Rongura Road will help market entry and a deliberate ginger processing plant (PTI). The Prime Minister additionally launched tasks such because the Chhimtuipui bridge, which can present all-weather connectivity and help cross-border commerce underneath the Kaladan Multimodal Transit framework. Other tasks embrace an LPG bottling plant at Mualkhang, new sports activities infrastructure, and residential faculties underneath PMJVK and the Eklavya Model scheme.

How Mizoram’s new rail line will change day by day life

Officials stated the Bairabi–Sairang railway is anticipated to remodel logistics and tourism, scale back journey time and generate employment. “This project has been constructed under great challenges,” Vaishnaw stated, including that it was a serious step in implementing the federal government’s Act East Policy.