Rail Connectivity Extended to Mizoram’s Capital

Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram, has now been successfully integrated into India’s national railway network with the completion of the 51.38 km Bairabi–Sairang rail line. With this milestone, Aizawl becomes the fourth capital in the Northeast to receive railway connectivity, following Guwahati, Agartala, and Itanagar. A trial run on this route was carried out by the Northeast Frontier Railway on May 1, marking a significant advancement in the region’s transportation infrastructure.

The newly constructed rail line extends from Bairabi—Mizoram’s only previous railhead situated near the Assam border—to Sairang, a town just 20 km away from Aizawl. According to the Ministry of Railways, the project has reached 94.52% physical progress and 97.13% financial completion. A final safety inspection by the Commission of Railway Safety (CRS) is awaited, after which the line is expected to be officially inaugurated post-June 17.

Approved at a revised cost of ₹5,021.45 crore, the project is being executed in four segments. Given Mizoram’s challenging terrain, construction posed major engineering challenges. The railway infrastructure includes 48 tunnels covering a total of 12.85 km, 55 major bridges, and 87 minor bridges. Among these, Bridge No. 196 stands out with a height of 104 metres—surpassing the height of the Qutub Minar.

The Bairabi–Sairang rail link forms a vital component of India’s larger strategy to expand rail connectivity in the Northeast. It supports the government’s long-term goal of strengthening integration between the region and the rest of the country by enhancing both accessibility and economic development, while also serving strategic mobility interests.