PM Modi inaugurates Mizoram's first Bairabi-Sairang rail line

PM Modi landed at Lengpui Airport but couldn`t go to Lammual Ground in Aizawl due to inclement weather.. Pic/PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday arrived in North Mizoram or the first time since the unrest broke out in 2023 at Manipur. PM Modi, on his arrival at the Northeast state, inaugurated Mizoram's first railway, the Bairabi-Sairang, which will ensure connectivity of the northeastern state to the rest of India.

PM Modi landed at Lengpui Airport but couldn't go to Lammual Ground in Aizawl due to inclement weather. However the Prime Minister flagged off the new trains via video conferencing, in Aizawl, Mizoram.

During the inauguration, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw was also present with the Prime Minister. Ashwini Vaishnaw also highlighted the engineering marvel of constructing such a line in the challenging Himalayan region.

The Union Minister further highlighted how PM Modi started the "Act-East policy", an upgrade from the Look-East policy, as reported by news agency ANI.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, during the inauguration ceremony at Manipur, said, "Before 2014, the budget for railways for the Northeast was only 2000 crore; Modi ji increased it five times to 10,000 crore. That is the current policy of Modi ji. Today, railway projects of 77,000 crore are underway now," as cited by news agency ANI.

Addressing the challenges that were faced by the engineers and workers, Ashwini Vaishnaw said, "This project has been constructed under great challenges. The terrain and Himalayan geology are very complex; the construction work gives us a totally new challenge. We have to first solidify the sand into a rock-like formation, and then only can we construct it. A new tunnelling method has been developed. In this project, there are 45 tunnels spanning 51 km and 45 bridges, making it very complex. One of the bridges is actually taller than the Qutub Minar," as per news agency ANI.

In line with his commitment to world-class infrastructure and last-mile connectivity, the Prime Minister is inaugurating the Bairabi-Sairang New Rail line, worth over Rs 8,070 crore, connecting the capital of Mizoram to the Indian Railways network for the first time today.

While addressing rail connectivity in the northeastern states, the release from the Prime Minister's office said, "The direct rail connectivity between Mizoram and the rest of the country will offer the people of the region safe, efficient, and cost-effective travel options. It will also ensure the timely and reliable supply of food grains, fertilisers, and other essential commodities, thereby enhancing overall logistical efficiency and regional accessibility."

PM Modi flagged off the express trains of the Sairang (Aizawl)-Delhi (Anand Vihar Terminal) Rajdhani Express, the Sairang-Guwahati Express and the Sairang-Kolkata Express on this occasion.

Apart from the railway line, the Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of multiple road projects. It includes Aizawl Bypass Road, Thenzawl-Sialsuk Road and Khankawn-Rongura Road.

(With inputs from ANI)