Mizoram is on the brink of a long-awaited rail breakthrough. If plans hold, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to the state on September 13 to inaugurate the Bairabi-Sairang railway project, a 51.38 km line that finally puts Aizawl on India’s railway map. Once operational, the Mizoram capital will join Guwahati, Itanagar and Agartala as the only Northeastern capitals with direct rail links.
PM Modi Likely To Attend Inauguration Of Bairabi-Sairang Railway Project
According to Zee News, the confirmation is still pending from the Prime Minister’s Office, but Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma has already hinted at the likely visit. Speaking at the Mizoram Police Service Association’s annual conference, he said the state was preparing for Modi’s presence at the launch.
Officials of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), headquartered at Maligaon near Guwahati, echoed the same sentiment and hinted at the Prime Minister’s arrival. The project stretches from Bairabi, close to Assam’s Hailakandi district, all the way to Sairang, which is just a short drive from Aizawl. For the first time, trains will roll directly into Mizoram’s doorstep.
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What It Means For Mizoram
The scale of the engineering involved in the Bairabi-Sairang railway project is commendable. To carve a railway through the steep, unstable terrain of Mizoram’s hills, engineers built their way to 48 tunnels and more than 140 bridges.
Bridge No. 196, soaring 104 metres above the ground, taller than the Qutub Minar, is already being talked about as one of the tallest in Indian Railways’ history. In total, the tunnels stretch nearly 13 km, while the alignment also includes five road overbridges and six underbridges.
Commissioner of Railway Safety Sumeet Singhal gave his nod in June after inspecting the tracks. That green signal means that trains can begin operating as soon as the line is flagged off. Built at an estimated cost of ₹8,215 crore, the Bairabi-Sairang railway project has been described as nothing less than transformative for Mizoram’s economy and connectivity, as stated by Zee News.
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Chief Minister Lalduhoma had already invited Narendra Modi in person when he met him in New Delhi on July 14. Should the inauguration of the Bairabi-Sairang railway project take place as scheduled, it will be remembered not only as a political event but as a turning point in Mizoram’s journey toward greater integration with the rest of the country.
Cover Image Courtesy: primeminister’soffice/Wikipedia and ministryofrailways/X
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