Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday felicitated engineers and officials for successfully completing two landmark railway projects — the Bairabi–Sairang line in Mizoram and the Araria–Galgalia line in Bihar — at a ceremony held in New Delhi.

The recognition celebrated the dedication, innovation, and teamwork of Indian Railways’ engineers and officials whose efforts have strengthened connectivity, promoted regional integration, and advanced inclusive development across India.

According to Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) Chief Public Relations Officer Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, both projects stand as testaments to Indian Railways’ commitment to expanding the national rail network and bridging remote regions with modern infrastructure.

The Bairabi–Sairang project, a 51.38 km-long new rail line, marks a historic milestone for the Northeast by providing rail connectivity to Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram, for the first time, effectively integrating the state into India’s railway grid.

Inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 13 September, the project showcases exceptional engineering, featuring 45 tunnels, 143 bridges (including one taller than Delhi’s Qutub Minar), and four new stations at Hortoki, Kawnpui, Mualkhang, and Sairang.

“Despite extremely challenging terrain and adverse weather, the NFR (Construction) team successfully executed this complex project, which will boost trade, tourism, and socio-economic development across Mizoram and the wider Northeast,” Sharma said.

Similarly, the Araria–Galgalia broad-gauge line, spanning 110.75 km, was also inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi on 15 September after statutory inspection by the Commissioner of Railway Safety, Sumeet Singhal, between 9 and 11 July.

Constructed under the Northeast Frontier Railway zone, the project comprises 64 major bridges, 264 minor bridges, and 15 stations, and allows train operations at speeds up to 100 kmph. It is expected to enhance connectivity and spur development in Bihar and adjoining regions.

Senior Railway officials, including Satish Kumar, Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board; Arun Kumar Chaudhary, General Manager (NFR Construction); Anjani Kumar and Hitendra Goyal, Chief Administrative Officers (NFR Construction), along with several engineers and project team members, attended the event.

Headquartered in Maligaon, Guwahati, the Northeast Frontier Railway manages over 7,362 track kilometres across the Northeastern states, seven districts of West Bengal, and five districts of North Bihar.

Currently, four Northeastern capitals — Dispur (Guwahati) in Assam, Agartala in Tripura, Naharlagun (Itanagar) in Arunachal Pradesh, and Sairang (Aizawl) in Mizoram — are connected to the national network, while work is ongoing to link Imphal, the capital of Manipur.

The two new rail lines form part of Indian Railways’ long-term mission to connect every Northeastern state capital, thereby driving economic growth, improving accessibility, and strengthening national integration.