Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the first railway line of Mizoram and flagged off the state’s first Rajdhani Express to connect Aizawl with Delhi.
The Barbi-Gauge rail line of about Rs 8,070 crore is considered the most challenging in the history of Indian Railways. The project was approved in the year 2008-09 and its construction started in 2015. The railway line has 45 tunnels, 55 large bridges and 87 small bridges.
An official of the Northeast Frontier Railway said that the bridge near Sairang is 114 meters high and its height is more than the Qutub Minar. The official said that this is the highest bridge with the country.
There are five road overbridges and six underpasses on this rail route. In addition to the barbi on this rail route, four main stations- Horatoki, Kavanpui, Mulakhang and Sairang are fall.
The direct rail connectivity between Mizoram and the rest of the country will provide safe, skilled and affordable travel options to the people of the region.
The Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement that this would also ensure timely and reliable supply of food grains, fertilizers and other essential commodities, which will increase overall logistics efficiency and regional access.
Officials said that the new railway line will improve the process of passenger and freight, travel time will decrease, tourism and employment will be promoted and the long -standing demand of the people of Mizoram will be fulfilled.
On this occasion, the Prime Minister also flagged off three new express train Sairang (Aizawl) Delhi (Anand Vihar Terminal) Rajdhani Express, Sairang-Guwahati Express and Sairang-Kolkata Express.
He also laid the foundation stone of many projects related to various areas including railways, roads, energy, sports etc.
The Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement that under the Prime Minister’s North Eastern Region Development Initiative (PM-Divine) scheme, the 45 km long Eizol bypass road costing more than Rs 500 crore will reduce congestion in Aizol city and will improve contacts with others including Lunglei, Siaha, Longlai, Longlai, Legpui airports and sairang railway stations.
The Khankon-Rongura road under the North Eastern Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS) Road in Serchhip district will ensure better access to the markets and will benefit various horticulture farmers and others in the area. Also, ginger processing plant will also help.
The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of the Chimatuipui Bridge on Longlai-Siaha Road, ‘Khelo India’ multipurpose indoor hall for the development of sports and an LPG bottling plant in Aizawl’s Mulakhang.
The Prime Minister also inaugurated a residential school in Kavartha and a Eklavya Model Residential School in Talanganuam under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Program (PMJVK) Scheme.
