The Bairabi-Sairang rail link project in Mizoram is a ₹8,071 crore project commissioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 13 this year. | Photo credit: Special arrangement
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s remarks that the Centre’s political stances have reduced the prospects of the SilverLine project have refocused attention on the initiative at a time when similar projects are being built in other parts of the country.
The project specifics of the recently inaugurated Bairabi-Sairang rail line in the Northeast confirm that the initiative is more environmentally demanding and damaging than the SilverLine medium-speed project.
The Bairabi-Sairang project in Mizoram is a ₹8,071 crore initiative commissioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 13 September 2025. The first phase of the railway project was one of the most difficult tasks in the history of Indian Railways as the rail link passed through 48 tunnels and crossed 143 highest bridges in some terrains.
In a distance of only 52 km, 55 major bridges and 88 minor bridges were built along with 45 tunnels, including tunnels and tunnels, with a length of 15.85 km, which is approximately 30.92% of the total length of the project, as the railway line had to pass through steep slopes, deep valleys between mountains and dense forests in highly landslide-prone terrain, making the construction a landslide-prone task. The project also boasts the second tallest pier bridge in the country, taller than the Qutub Minar.
The Bairabi-Sairang Rail Link Project in Mizoram is a ₹8,071 crore project commissioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 13 September 2025. | Photo credit: Special arrangement
Further, according to Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) sources, a survey is underway for the second phase of the 223 km proposed track from Sairang to Hbichhuah near the Myanmar border in southern Mizoram. After the survey, a detailed project report (DPR) will be sent to the Union Ministry of Railways for consideration. If the report is found feasible, the project would be taken up, sources said.
On the other hand, the 530 km long SilverLine has barely 11.53 km of tunnels and the entire length of the bridge would be 12.99 km as per the DPR by the Kerala government. The SilverLine project passes mainly via viaducts – 88.41 km (16.61%) – and embankments – 292.73 km (55%). While around 482 ha was acquired for the first phase of the Bairabi-Sairang rail link (52 km), the 530 km SilverLine requires only 1,383 ha. While the Bairabi-Sairang project and its proposed extension will serve about 10.97 million people in Mizoram, according to the 2011 census data, the proposed semi-high-speed rail project in Kerala will benefit 3.34 million people.
Transformation of Mizoram
Speaking to The Hindu during a visit to Raj Bhavan, Aizawl, Mizoram, Mizoram Governor VK Singh said the railway project will change the future of Mizoram, including tourism, ease transportation and reduce costs of goods and logistics. Furthermore, the integration of the railway line with the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport project is planned.
Although the SilverLine project has the potential to reshape Kerala’s economy and its social fabric, the Center has been tight-lipped, initially citing environmental concerns. The Center recently asked Kerala to revise the DPR to address technical and environmental issues and also to integrate the project with the existing broad gauge line passing through the state, which has around 627 turns where the average passenger train speed is 5t 5km. (73 km/h).
“We cannot accept this proposal as it is aimed at delaying the project for political gains,” said a senior state bureaucrat.
Published – 10 Dec 2025 23:02 IST
