Railways Expands Freight Services in Northeast, Boosting Trade

10 Oct 2025 CW Team

Indian Railways (IR) has further strengthened its presence in Northeast India with the launch of freight train services from Nagaland, following the successful commencement of passenger and cargo operations in Mizoram, as reported by Indian Express.

Rail connectivity in Mizoram was officially inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 13 September 2025, with the completion of the Bairabi-Sairang rail line project.

In September, the Ministry of Railways started freight operations from Molvom station in Nagaland. The first inward rake, carrying 41 wagons of cement from Telangana, reached Molvom on 24th September. This was followed by the first outward rake on 29th September, transporting 42 wagons of stone chips from Molvom to Jirania.

Mizoram has also seen considerable freight activity. In September, eight rakes were unloaded at Sairang station. The first rake, consisting of 21 wagons of cement from the STAR Cement Siding in Tetelia near Guwahati, arrived on 14th September. Subsequent rakes included three carrying stone chips and others with automobiles, ready-mix concrete (RMC), and sand from Bairabi.

Additionally, Mizoram marked a significant milestone on 19th September with its first parcel consignment from Sairang. The consignment, consisting of Anthurium flowers, was transported to Anand Vihar Terminal in Delhi aboard Train No. 20507 (Sairang–Anand Vihar Terminal Rajdhani Express).

With both freight and passenger services now operational in Mizoram and Nagaland, Indian Railways is set to boost regional trade, enhance market connectivity, and support the economic development of the Northeast.

Infrastructure Transport

09 Jan 2026

India Becomes First to Produce Bio-Bitumen for Roads

India has become the first country in the world to commercially produce bio-bitumen for use in road construction, according to Road, Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari. Bitumen, a black and viscous hydrocarbon derived from crude oil, is a key binding material in road building, and the bio-based alternative is expected to significantly improve the sector’s environmental footprint.Addressing the CSIR Technology Transfer Ceremony in New Delhi, Mr Gadkari congratulated Council of Scientific and Industrial Research on achieving the milestone, noting that the initiative would help curb ..

HILT Policy Seen Boosting Telangana Revenue Sharply

The Hyderabad Industrial Land Transformation (HILT) Policy is expected to generate around Rs 1.08 billion in revenue for the Telangana state exchequer, according to Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu. Speaking in the Telangana Legislative Assembly, he said the policy would be implemented within a six-month timeframe in a transparent manner, with uniform rules applicable to all stakeholders. Mr Vikramarka noted that without the HILT Policy, the state would have earned only about Rs 1.2 million per acre. Under the new framework, however, revenue is projected to rise sharply to Rs 70 ..

India Post, MoRD Tie Up to Boost Rural Inclusion

The Department of Posts and the Ministry of Rural Development have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to accelerate rural transformation and expand financial, digital and logistics services for Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and rural households across India. The agreement was signed in the presence of Union Minister of Communications and Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya M. Scindia and Union Minister of Rural Development and Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The collaboration aligns with the government’s “Dak Sewa, Jan Sewa” vision and seeks to repositi..