Enhancing Mizoram's Connectivity: The Railway Project

Mizoram Railway Connectivity & Its Strategic Importance

1. Recent development in Mizoram’s railway network

Indian Railways has commissioned a new 51.38 km broad gauge track up to Sairang, located 18 km from Aizawl, the state capital. This project aims to connect all northeastern state capitals to the national railway grid.

2. Importance of the project for Mizoram

Mizoram, being landlocked, previously relied heavily on air travel. The new railway provides:

• Faster and more economical access via the Aizawl-Silchar highway
• Efficient freight movement, supporting proposals like a Rajdhani Express to Delhi

3. Support for the Act East Policy

The Sairang terminal serves as a key node by:

• Strengthening India’s road and rail links to Southeast Asia
• Enhancing trade with ASEAN through multimodal connectivity
• Supporting transshipment of goods to the Kaladan Port in Myanmar

4. What is the Act East Policy?

Introduced in 2014, the Act East Policy aims to strengthen political, cultural, and economic ties between India and Southeast/East Asian countries. Northeast infrastructure development is central to this strategy.

5. Other railway projects supporting the Act East Policy

• Dimapur-Zubza (Nagaland)
• Imphal-Moreh (Manipur)
• Asian Highway 1 (Assam to Moreh via Kohima and Imphal)

6. Government support for infrastructure in the Northeast

Since 2014, the central government has:

• Tripled budgetary allocation for the region
• Constructed over 10,000 km of highways and 800+ km of railway lines
• Developed new airports and waterways

7. Economic impact of the new railway

• Lower transport costs
• Boost tourism
• Reduce dependency on road transport
• Improve trade and logistics with Southeast Asia

“Connectivity is the foundation of opportunity—economic, strategic, and civilisational. For a civil servant, the Northeast is not the end of the map, but the beginning of a gateway.”