Northeast Desk, 20th July: The Bairabi-Sairang railway line, poised to place Mizoram on India’s railway map, is expected to be commissioned by July next year. Officials from the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) informed Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati during a project review meeting that approximately 93% of the 51.38-km line’s construction is complete.
Key highlights of the project include:
- Stations: The railway line will have four stations: Hortoki, Kawnpui, Mualkhang, and Sairang.
- Current Progress: The section up to Hortoki is set to be commissioned shortly, following a successful trial run on the Bairabi-Hortoki segment.
- Upcoming Services: Train services to Mualkhang station are anticipated to begin within the next few months.
- Completion Target: The line extending to Sairang, near Mizoram’s capital Aizawl, is projected to be operational by July next year.
The railway project, sanctioned in 2008-09 with revised costs totaling Rs 8,213.72 crore, commenced construction in 2015. The line begins at Bairabi on the Assam-Mizoram border and features 55 major bridges, 87 minor bridges, and 32 tunnels.
Governor Kambhampati emphasized that the completed project will reduce travel time between Mizoram and Assam, significantly cut transportation costs, and stimulate Mizoram’s economy and tourism industry.