Aizawl to become 4th state capital in NE to have rail link by July, 2025 

The capital city of Aizawl of Mizoram state would be the fourth capital city in the Northeast region to come under railway connectivity by July next year as the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) is laying the new Broad Gauge (BG) track up to Sairang, near Aizawl. 

Assam’s main city of Guwahati (adjoining capital Dispur), Tripura capital Agartala, and Arunachal Pradesh's Naharlagun (adjacent to capital city Itanagar) are already connected with the railway network.

The Northeast frontier Railway (NFR) officials said that the new Broad-Gauge line is being laid in the Bairabi (near Assam's Hailakandi District) - Sairang (52 km) section in Mizoram's Aizawl District.

“The Rs 8,213.72 crore Bairabi-Sairang railway project would be commissioned in July 2025,” a senior NFR official told.

NFR said that Indian Railways is significantly contributing towards transformation of the North-eastern states by executing several new railway line projects. Constructing new railway lines to connect all the state capitals of north-eastern region is going on under capital connectivity projects of the Ministry of Railways. The Bhairabi-Sairang New Line Railway Project to connect the capital of the Northeastern state of Mizoram to the rest of the country is one such project which is at an advance stage of completion. This project once completed will be a game changer project in terms of communication and commerce for the people of Mizoram. The economical and environment friendly railway services will have a positive impact on almost all development works in the state. The 51.38 Km new line between Bhairabi and Sairang is divided into four sections, namely Bhairabi–Hortoki, Hortoki–Kawnpui, Kawnpui–Mualkhang and Mualkhang–Sairang. The project has already achieved physical progress of 93%.

Chief Public Relations Officer of the NFR, Sabyasachi De said that the construction of the Bhairabi – Sairang railway project involves multiple tunnels and bridges in tough terrains. The total length of tunnels in this project is 12853 meters out of which 12807 meters tunnelling works has already been completed. The project will have total 55 major bridges and 89 minor bridges, out of which work for 47 major bridges and 87 minor bridges have been completed so far. The work of construction of the tallest pier of the project i.e Pier P - 4 of bridge no. 196 in the approach of Sairang station has also been completed. Height of this pier is 104 meter which is 42 meter taller than the Qutub Minar. The project also includes 5 Road Over Bridges and 6 Road Under Bridges. There will be four stations in this project; Hortoki, Kawnpui, Mualkhang, and Sairang.

Though there are many challenges in execution of this project like very less working season due to very heavy and prolonged monsoons, very tough and hilly terrain through deep forests, poor accessibility, non-availability of construction materials and skilled labor in Mizoram etc., Northeast Frontier Railway is making all efforts for fulfilling its commitment of earliest commissioning of the project.

The new rail project will provide enhanced connectivity to the people of the Mizoram, help grow small scale industries in the area and boost tourism of the state. This project will ensure substantial cost reduction on transportation of passengers and various materials and commodities to this hilly state to cater to the needs of the local population. Travel time between the capital of Mizoram and nearby places of Assam will reduce significantly. People of the region will get long distance access across the country and uninterrupted supply of essential goods, said De.