The Jiribam-Imphal railway project is moving towards a crucial safety milestone, with Northeast Frontier Railway reviewing construction progress ahead of a Railway Safety inspection scheduled for October.

The 110.625-km railway line is among the most challenging infrastructure projects in the Northeast, cutting through difficult and mountainous terrain. It includes 54 tunnels with a cumulative length of about 66.47 km and 131 bridges, including 15 major and 116 minor bridges. One of its engineering highlights is the 141-metre-high bridge at Noney.

NFR Construction General Manager Ashish Bansal recently inspected the Jiribam-Khongsang, Khongsang-Awangkhul and Awangkhul-Imphal sections, reviewing ongoing works and preparedness for the Commission of Railway Safety inspection. The line is being completed in phases, with earlier sections already commissioned.

Once completed, the railway will provide Imphal with direct rail connectivity to the national network, improving passenger and freight movement and opening new opportunities for trade, tourism and investment.

The project is therefore more than an engineering feat—it is a strategic connectivity link that could reshape Manipur’s economic integration with the rest of India