Mizoram Capital Aizawl Connected to National Railway Network for First Time in History

In a landmark development for Mizoram’s connectivity, the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) has formally authorised the opening of the newly completed broad gauge railway line between Hortoki and Sairang, marking the successful completion of the 51.38 km Bairabi–Sairang New Line Railway Project. With this, the state capital Aizawl is now directly connected to the national railway network for the first time in history.

Chief Public Relations Officer of Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, said the CRS authorisation was granted following a detailed inspection conducted from June 6 to 10 by Sumeet Singhal, CRS of the Northeast Frontier Circle. “This milestone fulfils a long-cherished dream of the people of Mizoram to see trains reach the capital and will bring transformative socio-economic benefits to the state,” Sharma stated.

The final stretch from Hortoki to Sairang, spanning 33.864 km, had been the last remaining leg of the project after the Bairabi–Hortoki section was commissioned in July last year. The route traverses difficult hilly terrain and features extensive engineering works including 32 tunnels and 35 major bridges.

During the inspection, CRS Singhal travelled both by motor trolley and on foot to assess the safety of the route, followed by a speed trial with a diesel-hauled inspection special. Based on the findings, the line has been approved for operation at a maximum permissible speed of 90 kmph for both passenger and freight traffic.

Sharma described the Bairabi–Sairang line as an “engineering marvel,” highlighting its challenging topography and ambitious design. The entire project comprises 48 tunnels totalling 12,853 metres in length, 55 major and 87 minor bridges, five road overbridges, and six road underbridges. Notably, Bridge No. 196 rises to a height of 104 metres—making it 42 metres taller than the Qutub Minar.

The railway line is divided into four segments: Bairabi–Hortoki, Hortoki–Kawnpui, Kawnpui–Mualkhang, and Mualkhang–Sairang.

The commissioning of this final section is a significant step towards operationalising regular train services to Aizawl. The services will commence officially once CRS Singhal submits his inspection report to the Ministry of Railways and receives the final approval.

The completion of this rail link reflects Indian Railways’ strong focus on connecting remote and strategically vital northeastern states with the rest of the country, and underlines the Centre’s commitment to inclusive infrastructural development.