Aizawl : Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted the engineering challenges overcome to complete the Bairabi-Sairang line, ahead of the inauguration of Mizoram's first railway connectivity by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday.
Calling the project a "crucial initiative" to link the state with the rest of India, Vaishnaw said engineers had to tackle loose sand and difficult Himalayan geology.
"It is a matter of great joy that railway connectivity to Mizoram will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister tomorrow morning. The Bairabi-Sairang project is a crucial initiative for connecting Mizoram to the railway network," Vaishnaw said on Friday.
To overcome the challenges of loose sand, a new tunnelling method was used, according to the union minister.
"This project has been constructed under great challenges. The terrain and Himalayan geology are very complex; the construction work gives us a totally new challenge. We have to first solidify the sand into a rock-like formation, and then only can we construct. A new tunnelling method has been developed. In this project, there are 45 tunnels spanning 51 km and 45 bridges, making it very complex. One of the bridges is actually taller than the Qutub Minar," he said.
The minister added that freight services would begin immediately, followed by three passenger trains from Sunday.
"We will begin transporting goods (On Sunday), we will start three trains. One is the Rajdhani Express to Delhi, connecting the Kolkata Tri-Weekly Express, and the Mizoram Express to Guwahati as a daily service... Over time, we will increase the services," he said.
In line with his commitment to world-class infrastructure and last-mile connectivity, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the Bairabi-Sairang New Rail line, worth over Rs 8,070 crore, connecting the capital of Mizoram to the Indian Railways network for the first time on September 13.
"The direct rail connectivity between Mizoram and the rest of the country will offer the people of the region safe, efficient, and cost-effective travel options. It will also ensure the timely and reliable supply of food grains, fertilisers, and other essential commodities, thereby enhancing overall logistical efficiency and regional accessibility," according to a release from the Prime Minister's office.
PM Modi will also flag off the express trains of Sairang (Aizawl)-Delhi (Anand Vihar Terminal) Rajdhani Express, Sairang-Guwahati Express and Sairang-Kolkata Express on this occasion.
Apart from the railway line, the Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of multiple road projects. It includes Aizawl Bypass Road, Thenzawl-Sialsuk Road and Khankawn-Rongura Road.
PM Modi is on a five-state visit, going to Mizoram, Manipur, Assam, West Bengal and Bihar from 13th to 15th September, where he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stones of projects worth Rs 71,850 crore.