Aizawl, Sept. 13 -- In a historic milestone, Mizoram was officially connected to India's railway network for the first time as Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the 51-km Bairabi-Sairang railway line and flagged off three pairs of trains from Sairang station, located near the state capital, Aizawl.
So far, Mizoram was only accessible by air or a gruelling 8-10 hour road trip from Silchar in Assam. With the new railway connection, the same trip is now barely three hours, ushering in a new era of connectivity and growth to the state.
The freshly built line, regarded as one of the toughest railway projects in the Northeast, traverses hilly terrain with four key stations - Kurtiki, Kanpui, Mulkhang, and Sairang - along the way. Trains on the route can travel at speeds of up to 110 km/h, a milestone in the hilly terrain.
As part of his two-day visit to the Northeast, PM Modi arrived in Aizawl on Saturday morning. However, he could not reach Lammual Ground in Aizawl from Lengpui Airport by helicopter due to heavy rain.
PM Modi flagged off three trains -- Sairang-Anand Vihar (Delhi) Rajdhani Express (weekly), Kolkata-Sairang-Kolkata Express (tri-weekly) and Guwahati-Sairang-Guwahati Express (daily).
Addressing a large gathering virtually, PM Modi said, "Whether it is the freedom movement or nation building, the people of Mizoram have always come forward to contribute... Sacrifice and service, courage and compassion -- these values are at the centre of Mizo society."
The Sairang-Anand Vihar Terminal Rajdhani Express (Train No. 02507/20507 & 20508) started its first trip on Saturday at 10:00 am from Sairang and will arrive in Delhi on September 15. There will now be weekly regular services every Friday from Sairang, with the return trip starting from September 21.
The Bairabi-Sairang Passenger and Sairang-Guwahati Express (Train No. 05609/05610 & 15609/15610) also came into operation on Saturday. The first departure of the Sairang-Guwahati Express departed at 12:30 pm, with daily runs from now on.
The Sairang-Kolkata Express (Train No. 03126/13125 & 13126) departed on its first trip on Saturday at 10:00 am and will arrive in Kolkata today evening. Regular operations will commence from September 16, linking Mizoram to Kolkata directly three times a week, with return trips from September 18.
Railway authorities pointed out that the project, finalised after years of toil, would not only revolutionise travel to Mizoram but also consolidate economic development, trade, and tourism within the region. Mizoram's capital zone is included in the national railway network for the first time since Independence, getting the state closer to the nation.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.