News: Mizoram will soon be connected to the national railway network through new Bairabi–Sairang Railway Line.
About Bairabi–Sairang Railway Line
- The Bairabi–Sairang broad-gauge railway line is 51.38 km long.
- The line will connect Mizoram to the national railway network for the first time.
- It terminates at Sairang, which is located about 20 km from Aizawl, the state capital.
- The route links Mizoram with Silchar in Assam via Bhodahpur Junction.
- The project is part of Indian Railways’ larger plan to connect Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya, and Sikkim with the national railway network by 2030.
- Features
- The railway line includes 48 tunnels with a total length of 12.85 km, and the longest tunnel is about 1.37 km.
- It has 55 major bridges, with the longest bridge measuring about 1.3 km in length.
- The tallest structure is the Krung Bridge at Sairang, which stands 114 m above its base.
- The project also includes 87 minor bridges, five road overbridges, and six road under bridges.
- It is designed with advanced engineering to handle challenging terrain and seismic risks.
- Significance
- The railway line will significantly reduce travel time between Silchar and Mizoram from 10 hours by road to about 3 hours by train.
- It will provide an affordable mode of travel for all categories of people compared to long road journeys and expensive flights.
- The project is expected to boost economic activities in Mizoram, with a special focus on trade and tourism.
- Sairang expected to be a hub for goods from Myanmar’s Sittwe Port.
- It supports India’s Act East Policy by enhancing connectivity with ASEAN and East Asia.
