Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram, is set to become the fourth Northeastern capital city to be linked by rail within the next nine months. The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) is in the process of completing a new 51.38 km Broad Gauge track that will connect Bhairabi in Assam to Sairang, near Aizawl, officials said.

A senior Mizoram government official shared that NFR General Manager Arun Kumar Chaudhary, in a meeting with Chief Minister Lalduhoma, confirmed that the railway line between Bhairabi and Sairang is expected to be completed by July next year.

The Bairabi-Sairang railway project, with an estimated cost of Rs 8,213.72 crore, is in its final stages, according to a senior NFR official. Once finished, this project will be a transformative venture for Mizoram, greatly enhancing communication and commerce.

Currently, the railway network already connects other Northeastern cities like Guwahati (Assam), Agartala (Tripura), and Naharlagun (Arunachal Pradesh).

NFR’s Chief Public Relations Officer, Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, said the completion of the Bairabi-Sairang project will positively impact Mizoram's development, thanks to its eco-friendly and economically efficient services.

"Over 93% of the physical work has been completed. The route will include four stations—Hortoki, Kawnpui, Mualkhang, and Sairang," Sharma said. The Bhairabi-Hortoki section, stretching 17.38 km, has already been completed and operational since August.

The challenging terrain has required the construction of 48 tunnels, totaling 12,853 meters in length, of which 12,807 meters are already done. The project also includes 55 major bridges and 87 minor ones. The tallest pier in the project, near Sairang station, stands 104 meters high, surpassing the Qutub Minar in height by 42 meters.

Additional infrastructure includes five Road Over Bridges and six Road Under Bridges. Despite the difficult working conditions caused by prolonged monsoons and remote terrain, the NFR is committed to completing the project as soon as possible.

Designated as a ‘National Project’ by the Indian government, the Bairabi-Sairang railway line is seen as not only vital to Mizoram but also as a significant economic asset for the entire country. Originally approved in 2008-2009 at a cost of Rs 2,384.34 crore, the project's construction began in 2015.

The project faced a tragic setback when 24 workers, mostly from West Bengal, lost their lives in August last year following the collapse of an under-construction railway bridge.

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