Sairang Railway Project
The Indian Railways recently completed important 51.38 km railway track to Sairang, Mizoram. This development brings rail connectivity closer to Mizoram’s capital, Aizawl, enhancing trade, tourism, and strategic ties with Southeast Asia.
Background
Before this project, Mizoram had only 1.5 km of metre gauge track linking Bairabi to Assam’s Silchar. The gauge conversion and extension to Sairang started in 2008-09. Progress was slow due to difficult terrain, frequent landslides, weather, and manpower shortages. The project aimed to connect all northeastern state capitals by rail. The new Bairabi-Sairang section has 48 tunnels totaling 12.85 km and 142 bridges. It cost over ₹5,020 crore and claimed 18 lives during construction, including a tragic bridge collapse in 2023.
Significance for Mizoram and Northeast India
Mizoram, being landlocked, currently relies heavily on air travel and a five-hour road journey from Aizawl to Silchar. The new rail link will reduce travel time to 1.5 hours and lower transport costs. It will boost tourism and trade while reducing dependence on road freight. The Sairang railhead is strategically important for the Act East Policy. It will facilitate the transhipment of goods from India-funded Sittwe Port in Myanmar. This rail link enhances connectivity with ASEAN countries and supports India’s diplomatic and security goals in the region.
What is Act East Policy?
Launched in 2014 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Act East Policy is an expansion of the earlier Look East Policy from 1991. It aims to develop the northeast as India’s gateway to Southeast Asia. Budget allocations for the region have tripled since 2014, with major infrastructure projects in highways, railways, airports, and waterways. Key rail projects include the Dimapur-Zubza line in Nagaland and the Imphal-Moreh line in Manipur. However, ethnic conflicts and regional instability have delayed some projects.
Challenges and Regional Geopolitics
The policy faces hurdles from unrest in neighbouring countries. The military coup in Myanmar in 2021 and political changes in Bangladesh in 2024 have stalled cross-border connectivity projects. The Agartala-Akhaura railway linking Tripura to Kolkata via Bangladesh is on hold. The Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project in Myanmar, vital for reducing distance between Mizoram and Kolkata, has also been delayed. These issues impact India’s broader strategy to integrate with Southeast Asia economically and strategically.
| Related | |
|---|---|
