Mizoram's first railway line: PM Modi inaugurates Rs 8,070 crore worth Bairabi–Sairang project; Rajdhani flagged off to link Aizawl with national network

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated Mizoram’s first-ever railway line, the Bairabi–Sairang broad-gauge project, marking a historic moment in the state’s connectivity journey. Built at a cost of Rs 8,070 crore, the 51.38-km line is regarded as one of the most complex undertakings in Indian Railways’ history.

How a 15-year vision turned into reality

Sanctioned in 2008-09 and launched for construction in 2015, the line features 45 tunnels, 55 major bridges, 87 minor bridges, and ten road over- and underpasses. Nearly 54% of the alignment passes through tunnels and bridges. Among its most striking structures is Bridge No. 144 near Sairang, which at 114 metres stands taller than Delhi’s Qutub Minar, making it the tallest pier railway bridge in the country, according to the Northeast Frontier Railway. The project also added four stations — Hortoki, Kawnpui, Mualkhang and Sairang — connecting communities along the route.

Why Aizawl’s first rail link is a game-changer

The new route extends connectivity from Bairabi on the Assam–Mizoram border to Sairang, just 20 km from Aizawl, directly linking the state capital with India’s railway network for the first time. With this, Aizawl becomes the fourth northeastern capital to gain direct rail access, after Guwahati, Agartala and Itanagar.

From Aizawl to Delhi: the new rail routes unveiled

The Prime Minister also flagged off three new long-distance services: the Sairang–Delhi Rajdhani Express, the Sairang–Guwahati Express, and the Sairang–Kolkata Express. According to Indian Railways, the inaugural Rajdhani left Sairang at 10 am on Saturday to reach Anand Vihar Terminal on September 15. Regular services will see the train depart Sairang every Friday evening and return from Delhi every Sunday night. The Guwahati Express will run daily from September 13, departing Guwahati at 7 pm and Sairang at 7 pm the next day. The Kolkata Express will operate thrice weekly, leaving Kolkata every Saturday, Tuesday and Wednesday and returning from Sairang every Monday, Thursday and Friday.

Building railways through rocks, rivers and ridges

The Prime Minister’s Office said the line would provide “safe, efficient and cost-effective travel options,” while ensuring timely supplies of essentials like food grains and fertilisers, as per news agency PTI. Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw underlined that the project had to overcome “Himalayan geology and complex terrain,” noting that engineers even had to solidify loose sand into rock formations before tunnelling could proceed.

What else PM Modi announced beyond the railway line

Alongside the rail project, the Prime Minister laid foundation stones for a range of infrastructure works worth over Rs 9,000 crore. These include the 45-km Aizawl Bypass Road under PM-DevINE, the Thenzawl–Sialsuk Road and the Khankawn–Rongura Road under NESIDS, aimed at easing travel and improving access for farmers and traders. The Thenzawl–Sialsuk Road is expected to benefit horticulture farmers, dragon fruit growers, paddy cultivators and ginger processors, while the Khankawn–Rongura Road will support market access and a planned ginger processing plant (PTI). The Prime Minister also launched projects such as the Chhimtuipui bridge, which will provide all-weather connectivity and support cross-border commerce under the Kaladan Multimodal Transit framework. Other projects include an LPG bottling plant at Mualkhang, new sports infrastructure, and residential schools under PMJVK and the Eklavya Model scheme.

How Mizoram’s new rail line will change daily life

Officials said the Bairabi–Sairang railway is expected to transform logistics and tourism, reduce travel time and generate employment. “This project has been constructed under great challenges,” Vaishnaw said, adding that it was a major step in implementing the government’s Act East Policy.