Aizawl, Sep 13: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated Mizoram’s first ever railway line and flagged off the state’s maiden Rajdhani Express, marking a historic step in the region’s connectivity with the rest of the country.
The Rs 8,070-crore Bairabi–Sairang railway line, one of the most challenging projects in Indian Railways’ history, was sanctioned in 2008-09 with construction starting in 2015. The 51 km line features 45 tunnels, 55 major bridges, 87 minor bridges, five road overbridges, and six underpasses. Notably, Bridge No. 144 near Sairang stands at 114 metres taller than Delhi’s Qutub Minar and is the tallest pier railway bridge in India.
The line connects Bairabi to Sairang through key stations including Hortoki, Kawnpui, Mualkhang, and Sairang, ensuring efficient passenger and freight transport. Officials said the project will enhance tourism, create jobs, and improve the supply chain of essential commodities such as food grains, fertilizers, and industrial goods.
On the occasion, PM Modi also flagged off three new express trains the Sairang–Delhi (Anand Vihar Terminal) Rajdhani Express, the Sairang–Guwahati Express, and the Sairang–Kolkata Express.
In addition, he laid the foundation stones for multiple projects across railways, roadways, energy, and sports. Key highlights include the 45-km Aizawl Bypass Road worth over Rs 500 crore under the PM DevINE scheme, the Thenzawl-Sialsuk Road and Khankawn–Rongura Road under the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS), the Chhimtuipui bridge on Lawngtlai–Siaha Road, a Khelo India multipurpose indoor hall, and an LPG bottling plant at Mualkhang.
The Prime Minister also inaugurated a residential school at Kawrthah under the PMJVK scheme and an Eklavya Model Residential School at Tlangnuam, reaffirming the government’s commitment to development and education in the North East.