PM To Inaugurate Bairabi Sairang Railway Line Rajdhani Service
Mizoram will witness a historic moment as the newly built Bairabi–Sairang broad gauge railway line is inaugurated, linking the state capital Aizawl with the national rail network for the first time. Alongside, the inaugural run of a Rajdhani Express between Aizawl and Delhi marks a significant step in strengthening connectivity and socio-economic integration of the North East with the rest of the country.
The 51.38-km line, executed by Northeast Frontier Railway at a cost of ₹8,213 crore, is being hailed as an engineering landmark. Carved through challenging terrain, the project includes 48 tunnels, 55 major bridges, and 87 minor bridges, covering nearly 13 kilometres of underground track. Among its marvels is the tallest pier bridge in the country near Sairang station, rising 114 metres taller than Delhi’s Qutub Minar.
Officials said the line not only connects Aizawl to Assam’s Silchar and onward to the national rail grid, but also drastically cuts travel time. Journeys between Aizawl and Guwahati, which currently take 16 hours by road, will reduce to about 12 hours by train. Similarly, travel to Silchar will shrink from seven hours by road to three by rail. The new services include direct trains to Delhi, Kolkata, and Guwahati.The project, first sanctioned in 2008, had its foundation stone laid in 2014 and construction completed in a decade. For Mizoram, which until now relied on Bairabi as its sole railhead, the extension to Sairang offers long-awaited access to affordable, faster, and more sustainable travel.
Beyond convenience, the railway is expected to transform the state’s economy. Experts note that freight corridors will open new markets for local producers, reduce logistics costs, and encourage investment in agri-business and manufacturing. The tourism sector, already a vital part of Mizoram’s growth, is likely to benefit from easier inflow of domestic and international travellers.Security arrangements and public mobilisation in Aizawl underscore the importance of the event, with officials calling it a milestone in the Centre’s Act East policy, designed to deepen economic ties and mobility across the North East.
Planners highlight that the rail corridor also represents a step toward climate-conscious transport, shifting passenger and freight movement from polluting roadways to electrified tracks. With efficient energy use, gender-neutral access, and equitable opportunities for local employment, the line is being framed as a model of sustainable infrastructure.For Mizoram’s citizens, the launch is more than just another transport project it is the fulfilment of a decades-long aspiration to be firmly integrated into India’s rail map and to participate more fully in the nation’s growth journey.
