Hortoki–Sairang Railway Line

Context:

The Commission of Railway Safety (CRS) has approved the final Hortoki–Sairang section, marking the first-ever rail connectivity to Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram.

About the Project

• The Bairabi–Sairang rail line spans 51.38 km and is a major infrastructure milestone in Mizoram.
• Key Engineering Features:
  • 48 tunnels, with a total length of 12.8 km
  • 55 major bridges, including Bridge No. 196, which stands 104 metres tall—taller than Delhi’s Qutub Minar.

Route Segments

The line is divided into four phases:

1. Bairabi–Hortoki
2. Hortoki–Kawnpui
3. Kawnpui–Mualkhang
4. Mualkhang–Sairang

• The final segment, Hortoki–Sairang (33.86 km), now links Aizawl—located 20 km from Sairang—to the Indian Railways grid.

National Significance

• Mizoram becomes the fourth Northeastern state capital to be connected via rail, following:
  • Assam (Guwahati)
  • Tripura (Agartala)
  • Arunachal Pradesh (Itanagar/Naharlagun)

About the Commission of Railway Safety (CRS)

• A statutory body under the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
• Legal Basis: Governed by the Railways Act, 1989.
• Functions:
  • Grants approval for new railway lines
  • Conducts safety inspections and audits
  • Investigates major railway accidents
• Final clearance by CRS is mandatory before any new line becomes operational for public use.