New Delhi/Guwahati, Oct 30 (NationPress) Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw honored the dedicated teams of engineers and officials who played pivotal roles in the successful launch of two significant new rail line projects: the Bairabi-Sairang in Mizoram and Araria-Galgalia in Bihar during a ceremony in the national capital. The accolades acknowledged the remarkable commitment, ingenuity, and collaboration exhibited by Railway officials and engineers in bringing these ambitious projects to fruition, which enhance connectivity, foster regional unity, and promote inclusive development.

According to Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) Chief Public Relations Officer Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, the Bairabi-Sairang and Araria-Galgalia projects exemplify Indian Railways' dedication to broadening the national rail network and connecting remote areas with advanced infrastructure.

Sharma noted that the Bairabi-Sairang rail line project marks a historic achievement for the Northeast, establishing rail connectivity to Aizawl, Mizoram's capital, for the first time—effectively integrating the state into India's railway framework.

The 51.38-kilometre Bairabi–Sairang stretch was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Aizawl on September 13. This project showcases outstanding engineering, featuring 45 tunnels, 143 bridges (one surpassing the height of Delhi’s Qutub Minar), and four new stations at Hortoki, Kawnpui, Mualkhang, and Sairang.

“Despite the extremely challenging terrain and severe weather conditions, the Northeast Frontier Railway (Construction) team adeptly executed this intricate project, which is poised to enhance trade, tourism, and socio-economic progress throughout Mizoram and the broader Northeast,” Sharma remarked.

In a similar vein, the Araria-Galgalia broad gauge rail line, stretching 110.75 kilometres, has reached full completion following a regulatory inspection by Commissioner of Railway Safety Sumeet Singhal between July 9 and 11. Prime Minister Modi inaugurated this new section on September 15, flagging off the first passenger train service on this route.

This line, developed under the Northeast Frontier Railway zone, incorporates 64 major bridges, 264 minor bridges, and 15 stations, with authorization for train operations at speeds reaching 100 kmph. The project is anticipated to bolster regional connectivity and stimulate growth in Bihar and its neighboring areas, as noted by Sharma.

Senior Railway officials, including Satish Kumar, Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board; Arun Kumar Chaudhary, General Manager (NFR Construction); Anjani Kumar and Hitendra Goyal, Chief Administrative Officers (NFR Construction); alongside numerous engineers and project members were present at the ceremony honoring these accomplishments.

The Northeast Frontier Railway, based in Maligaon, Guwahati, operates across the Northeastern states, seven districts of West Bengal, and five districts of north Bihar, managing over 7,362 track kilometres of railway lines.

Currently, four Northeastern state capitals—Dispur (Guwahati) in Assam, Agartala in Tripura, Naharlagun near Arunachal Pradesh's capital Itanagar, and Sairang near Mizoram’s capital Aizawl—are interconnected by rail. Efforts are ongoing to link Imphal, the capital of Manipur, to the national rail network.

The recently completed projects are part of Indian Railways' broader mission to incorporate the entire Northeast into the national railway map, facilitating economic expansion, enhanced accessibility, and greater national integration.