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Expanding railway links are reshaping Northeast India’s connectivity, opening new trade corridors and economic opportunities across borders.
On 13 September 2025, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi inaugurated the Bairabi Sairang Railway line, a 51.38 km engineering marvel providing railway connectivity from Aizawl, Mizoram’s capital city, to the rest of India’s railway network. Two days later, the first cargo consignment for Aizawl by rail arrived at Sairang Railway station, a 21-wagon cement rake loaded from STAR cement siding in Assam (See Image 1). Subsequently, seven more railway rakes, carrying commodities such as stone, sand, and automobiles, have already been unloaded at this station.
For Mizoram, which has long struggled with inadequate connectivity and transportation infrastructure, this marks a historic moment for trade and economic development.
For Mizoram, which has long struggled with inadequate connectivity and transportation infrastructure, this marks a historic moment for trade and economic development. The safe, swift, and cost-effective movement of goods by rail from different parts of the country to Aizawl is not only helping reduce the costs of commodities in local markets but is also increasing availability and variety.
Image 1: First Cargo Consignment for Aizawl
Source: Northeast Frontier Railway Archives
Furthermore, railway connectivity is also enabling the indigenous products of Mizoram to reach new markets. On 19 September 2025, the first parcel consignment was booked from Aizawl to New Delhi, consisting of boxes of Anthurium flowers. It is expected that in the coming months, this railway connectivity will provide new opportunities for trade for Mizoram’s agricultural, horticultural, and forest-based products, particularly Bamboo. Over 50 percent of Mizoram’s geographical area is covered in bamboo, and its products have a massive demand in Indian markets as well as in countries such as South Korea.
Railway connectivity is also enabling the indigenous products of Mizoram to reach new markets.
Although the Northeast has long been recognised as the gateway to Southeast Asia, it was only from 2014 onwards, when the new and incumbent government came to power in New Delhi, that intensive focus was given on the upgradation and modernisation of transportation and logistics infrastructure in this region. One important focus in this regard is the extension of the railway network in all the states of the Northeast. Emerging railway connectivity in Northeast India holds immense trade opportunities, as discussed subsequently.
The extension of railway connectivity in Mizoram beyond Bairabi station started in 2014 with the launch of the Bairabi – Sairang project, which culminated in August 2025 (See Map 1). Three passenger train services have been launched on this route – connecting Aizawl to Guwahati, Kolkata, and New Delhi. To facilitate the fast and cost–effective movement of goods from and to Aizawl, a freight terminal has also been constructed at Sairang station, where loading and unloading of goods is taking place. Several other stations have also been provided along the route, including Hortoki, Kawnpui, and Mualkhang, located in the Kolasib and Aizawl districts.
Map 1: Rail route from Bairabi to Sairang
Source: Northeast Frontier Railway Archives
The route contains as many as 55 major bridges and 45 tunnels, wading effortlessly through the geographically challenging terrain, where road-based transport is often difficult and time-consuming. This will reduce the time required for transporting goods and also lower the risks of damage and theft, allowing Mizoram's products to reach broader markets.
The route contains as many as 55 major bridges and 45 tunnels, wading effortlessly through the geographically challenging terrain, where road-based transport is often difficult and time-consuming.
Furthermore, a survey is underway for further extension of railway connectivity up to the southernmost border of Mizoram, in the form of the proposed 223 km Sairang – Hbichhuah project. This has the potential to enable direct trade with Myanmar and with the rest of Southeast Asia through the Sittwe port.
In Manipur, work is underway on the 110 km Jiribam – Imphal New Railway line, which will connect Imphal, the capital of Manipur, to the national railway network. Over half the length has already been commissioned, and trains are presently running up to Khongsang Station in Tamenglong District. During the recent violence in Manipur, this railway line served as a lifeline, facilitating the transport of essential commodities. The first goods train that arrived at Khongsang in July 2023 was received by the then Chief Minister (CM) of Manipur himself, highlighting the immense importance that railway connectivity holds for the state, which has often suffered due to road blockades and landslides over the years.
Image 2: Imphal Station Building Under Construction
Source: Northeast Frontier Railway Archives
The remaining sections of the project, from Khongsang to Noney and from Noney to Imphal, are expected to be completed by December 2028. Once completed, this will act as a major boost for industry and trade in Manipur (See Image 2). A survey for a new railway line from Imphal to Moreh has also been sanctioned, which will extend railway connectivity to the Myanmar border, serving as an important enabler for future international trade with Southeast Asia.
Although Sikkim became the 22nd state of India in 1975, it has yet to connect to the Railway network. This is soon going to change, thanks to the 45 km Sevok – Rangpo new line project, originating from Sevok station in West Bengal and extending up to Rangpo in the Pakyong district of Sikkim. Work on this project, where 86 percent of the length consists exclusively of tunnels and bridges, is progressing well and is expected to be completed by December 2027. Apart from this, survey work for further extension of the line from Rangpo to Gangtok is already in progress.
Assam and Tripura are two states of the Northeast, where an extensive railway network has already been developed, with major capacity augmentation being carried out in recent years. In Tripura, the railway network extends to Sabroom in Southern Tripura, right up to the border with Bangladesh. In Assam, doubling of the main line network has already been completed up to Lumding and will soon be extended to Furkating, and then Dibrugarh in the coming years. However, several bottlenecks persist, which are being resolved to enable the railway network to carry more freight trains at faster speeds. A new rail – cum – road bridge over the Brahmaputra River is under construction near the existing Saraighat Bridge. A survey for a new line from Lanka to Moinarband in Assam is also underway, which is expected to resolve the logistical constraints of the Lumding – Badarpur hill line.
The infrastructural work for international rail connectivity to Bangladesh through the LCS at Nischintapur Railway Station in Tripura has also been completed. However, it is presently on hold owing to the political instability in Bangladesh. It is hoped that in the years to come, this will act as a major boost for trade, not only with Bangladesh, but also with Southeast Asian countries through the port of Chattogram.
The railway connectivity projects described in the preceding paragraphs are monumental in scope and have the potential to transform the economic environment in the Northeast. They will provide the infrastructural network necessary for a paradigm shift in trade and commerce in this region by the year 2030. However, to ensure that this potential transforms into reality, there is a need for the development of appropriate trade facilitation arrangements and the proliferation of ancillary services.
The railway connectivity projects described in the preceding paragraphs are monumental in scope and have the potential to transform the economic environment in the Northeast.
An important requirement in this regard is the availability of aggregators, whether they be Farmer-Producer Organisations (FPOs), Self Help Groups (SHGs), or private service providers, who can act as intermediaries and accumulate produce from individual producers. Marketing is another important aspect. Although there is demand for the products of the Northeast in domestic and international markets, a streamlined system of demand and supply will be necessary for sustained rail-based transportation.
Credit forms another important aspect. Some sectors, such as rubber sheet production in Tripura, can be credit-intensive and require substantial working capital to enable the bulk movement by railway wagons and parcel vans. The infrastructural services, such as multi-modal logistics parks, can also be of utmost benefit in fostering trade and leveraging the railway network to connect to markets. Investment in these areas can have a multiplier effect on the region’s economic development.
The railway network in Northeast India is undergoing rapid expansion, and a transformative change in the railway infrastructure is expected within the next five years, which will provide the framework for increased trade and commerce in the region. However, the infrastructure by itself can only go so far. There is an urgent need for trade facilitation and ancillary services, including credit organisations, aggregators, multi–modal logistics hubs, export agencies, among others. It is in these dimensions that various stakeholders, including the corporate sector and multilateral agencies, can take an active part to enable Northeast India to achieve its potential.
Kapinjal Kishore Sharma is an Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) officer of the Government of India, currently serving as the Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) for the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR).
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Kapinjal Kishore Sharma is an Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) officer of the Government of India, currently serving as the Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) ...
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