The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) for Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR), Sumeet Singhal, has initiated final safety inspections of the long-awaited Bairabi–Sairang broad gauge railway line, raising expectations for its inauguration by July.
The inspection, which began on June 6, covers the remaining 51.38-km stretch from Hortoki to Sairang-Sihhmui, and includes stations at Kawnpui and Mualkhang. This follows the successful certification of the Bairabi–Hortoki section last year. The CRS, operating independently under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, ensures the integrity of safety protocols before the line becomes operational.
Trial runs between Hortoki and Sairang-Sihhmui stations have already reached speeds of 50 kmph. Once certified, the railway line—featuring 32 tunnels, 55 major bridges, and the 104-meter-high Pier P-4—will open for both passenger and freight services. Part of India’s Act East Policy, the ₹8,215 crore project is aimed at strengthening connectivity in the Northeast. With ₹7,714 crore already spent, the railway is nearly complete. Rajya Sabha MP K. Vanlalvena also confirmed that preliminary surveys are underway to extend the line to the Mizoram–Myanmar border, potentially transforming regional trade and connectivity.
