PM Modi Inaugurates Mizoram’s First Railway Station, ₹8,070 Crore Bairabi–Sairang Line Opens

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated Mizoram's first railway station at Sairang, marking a historic moment for the state's connectivity. The inauguration coincided with the completion of the Bairabi-Sairang New Rail Line, a project worth more than ₹8,070 crore that links Aizawl to the Indian Railways network for the first time.

Located 12 kilometers from the state capital, Sairang railway station was formally opened as Modi flagged off the first passenger trains from the facility. The launch fulfills a decades-old promise of connecting all northeastern capitals to the national railway grid.

The 51.38-kilometer Bairabi-Sairang project is considered an engineering feat, featuring 48 tunnels and 142 bridges, including 55 major and 87 minor structures. One of its highlights is Bridge No. 196, which stands at 104 meters-taller than Delhi's Qutub Minar-making it the tallest in Mizoram and the second-highest pier bridge in the country.

The project, first conceptualized in 1999, faced repeated delays due to landslides and short working seasons in the hilly terrain. With its completion, Aizawl has now become the fourth northeastern capital to be connected by rail after Guwahati, Agartala, and Itanagar.

Officials said the new line is expected to significantly reduce travel costs and time, boost tourism, and create jobs by improving logistics and trade opportunities. The railway ministry added that the project could eventually extend to the Myanmar border under the Kaladan initiative, enhancing India's cross-border connectivity.

In his address, Modi called the project a reflection of the government's vision of inclusive development, stressing that connectivity is the foundation of growth in the Northeast. Mizoram Governor and Union Railway Minister described the project as a milestone achievement, bringing modern infrastructure to one of India's most difficult terrains.

The Prime Minister also flagged off the inaugural Rajdhani Express service from Sairang to Delhi's Anand Vihar station. Covering 2,510 kilometers in about 43 hours, it will be the first Rajdhani Express to operate from Mizoram. Additional express services to Kolkata and Guwahati are also planned to expand connectivity.

With the opening of the Sairang station, Mizoram steps into a new era of development and integration, with officials expressing confidence that the Bairabi-Sairang line will transform the state's economic and social landscape.