Guwahati: The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has apprised Mizoram government about the status of construction of 51.38 km Bhairabi-Sairang new broad gauge railway line project that will connect the frontier state with the rest of the country.
The General Manager, N. F. Railway, H K Jaggi, on Friday called on the Governor of Mizoram, Lt General (Rtd.) Nirbhay Sharma at Aizwal and also the chief minister Lalthanhawla and apprised them on the status of railway projects in the state including the 51.38 km Bhairabi – Sairang railway line project.
The General Manager, accompanied by the Chief Engineer of Construction, NFR, made a presentation on the current status of the projects in Mizoram. The Governor, while assuring all help in acquiring additional land, if needed, advised that Sairang should be developed as a multi-modal transport hub and the new railway stations to be constructed in the state should reflect the cultural ethos of the Northeastern region.
The Governor directed the Revenue Secretary, the Transport Secretary and the Transport Consultant to Mizoram Government, who were present at the meeting, to extend all possible help to the Railways in executing the developmental projects.
Later in the day, the General Manager also met the Chief Minister Lalthanhawla to inform him on the progress of the railway projects.
The CM suggested said that railway should work on plans to develop Sairang as a transport hub considering the fact that it would be a major point on the Kaladan Multi-modal Transport network connecting Mizoram to the sea port of Sittwe via Kaladan river in Myanmar.
The NFR, General Manager requested for improvement of road connectivity in the State so that men and materials for the railway projects could be transported easily.
While assuring all assistance, the CM urged for speedy completion of the Bhairabi – Sairang project considering its importance in future economic development of the state.
The railways on-going project of new line from Bhairabi to Sairang is a crucial link in opening up the state to Mynmar and far east as a part of the “Act East” policy being pursued by the Central government. The new rail link is slated for completion by 2020.
