Guwahati Oct 18: The Bhairabi-Sairang New Line Railway Project is a crucial infrastructure initiative aimed at connecting Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram, to the broader Indian railway network. This project is nearing completion and is expected to significantly boost the region’s connectivity, facilitating easier and faster transportation of passengers and goods.
It will also foster economic growth by supporting local industries and promoting tourism in Mizoram.
By linking Mizoram to Assam and other parts of the country, the project will lead to a substantial reduction in travel time, making long-distance travel and transportation of essential commodities more efficient and affordable. The improved accessibility is expected to have a transformative impact on Mizoram, helping reduce transportation costs, ensuring a steady supply of essential goods, and enhancing the state’s economic potential.
This rail line is also expected to spur the growth of small-scale industries and tourism, contributing to the overall development of the region.
A spokesperson of Northeast Frontier Railway said the project spans 51.38 km and is divided into four sections: Bhairabi -Hortoki, Hortoki-Kawnpui, Kawnpui-Mualkhang, and Mualkhang-Sairang. The first section, Bhairabi-Hortoki, covering 17.38 km, has already been completed, and train services have been operational since August. Once fully completed, this project is expected to be transformative for Mizoram, revolutionizing communication, commerce, and transportation in the state.
The project is particularly significant for its cost-effective and environmentally friendly railway services, which will positively impact economic development across various sectors in Mizoram. One of the project’s engineering feats involves constructing 48 tunnels through challenging terrain, with a total tunnel length of 12,853 meters.
The spokesperson said as of now, 12,807 meters of tunnelling work has been successfully completed. This ambitious project is set to dramatically enhance connectivity, making transportation smoother and quicker for passengers and freight, and contributing to the state’s overall development.
The project is a significant engineering endeavour, involving the construction of 55 major bridges and 87 minor bridges. One of the key achievements in the project is the completion of the tallest pier, Pier P-4 of bridge no. 196, located near the Sairang station, with a height of 104 meters – 42 meters taller than the Qutub Minar. Additionally, the project includes five Road Over Bridges (ROBs) and six Road Under Bridges (RUBs), ensuring smooth road connectivity alongside the railway line.
The project will feature four stations -Hortoki, Kawnpui, Mualkhang, and Sairang -serving as crucial hubs for passengers and freight. Despite the many challenges in executing the project, including limited working seasons due to prolonged monsoons, difficult hilly terrain, deep forests, poor accessibility, and the scarcity of construction materials and skilled labour in Mizoram, the Northeast Frontier Railway is working diligently towards completing the project as soon as possible.
“Once finished, the Bhairabi-Sairang rail link will greatly enhance connectivity for Mizoram, with the potential to drive economic growth, improve communication, and make transportation more efficient and reliable for the region’s people and industries,” he added.
