Will Aizawl Soon Join the Railway Network as the 4th NE Capital?

Guwahati, June 7 (NationPress) The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) is making a crucial move to establish a rail connection to Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram, marking it as the fourth capital city in the northeastern region to be integrated into the railway network.

The Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of NFR, Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, announced that a significant step has been taken towards enhancing railway connectivity in northeastern India with the initiation of the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) inspection for the Hortoki–Sairang segment of the Bairabi–Sairang new line project.

Sharma informed that Sumeet Singhal, the CRS for the Northeast Frontier Circle, is overseeing the inspection from June 6 to 10, beginning at the Sairang station, positioned near Aizawl. The official inauguration of this new railway line is anticipated to occur post-June 17, contingent upon the successful completion of the CRS inspection and the necessary safety approvals, as stated by the CPRO. This 33.864 km Hortoki–Sairang section is a vital part of the 51.38 km Bairabi (adjacent to Assam’s Hailakandi district)–Sairang new line, aimed at enhancing connectivity to state capitals.

Upon successful inspection completion, Mizoram will join the ranks of Assam, Tripura, and Arunachal Pradesh, becoming the fourth northeastern state with its capital linked to the national railway system, as mentioned by the CPRO. The Bairabi–Sairang project is segmented into four parts: Bairabi–Hortoki (16.72 km, inaugurated in July 2024), Hortoki–Kawnpui (9.71 km), Kawnpui–Mualkhang (12.11 km), and Mualkhang–Sairang (12.84 km).

Sharma highlighted the immense engineering feat of this project, which incorporates 48 tunnels stretching a total of 12,853 metres, along with 55 major bridges, 87 minor bridges, five Road Over Bridges (ROBs), and six Road Under Bridges (RUBs). Notably, bridge number 196 (a rail pier bridge) soars to a height of 104 metres, surpassing Delhi’s Qutub Minar by 42 metres, a testament to the engineering prowess required to navigate Mizoram’s rugged terrain.

A historic trial run on this route was successfully conducted on May 1 this year, attended by the General Manager (Construction) of NFR, marking a pivotal moment in Aizawl’s railway connectivity endeavors. As of June 2025, the project has achieved 94.52 percent physical progress, demonstrating steady advancement toward its operational goal.

Once operational, the Bairabi-Sairang railway line is poised to transform Mizoram’s connectivity landscape. The enhanced rail link is expected to facilitate access to essential goods, promote longer-distance travel (both for passengers and freight), and significantly lower transportation expenses.

The CPRO noted that the railway line is anticipated to invigorate local tourism, foster small-scale industries, and propel socio-economic growth throughout the region. NFR remains committed to the early completion of this transformative initiative for the people of Mizoram and the broader northeastern community, Sharma stated.