Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Bairabi-Sairang railway line today, marking Mizoram’s capital, Aizawl, joining India’s national railway network for the first time. The 51.38-kilometre stretch, built at a cost exceeding ₹8,000 crore, traverses rugged terrain using 45 tunnels, 55 major bridges, 87 minor bridges, as well as several road over- and underbridges. Among its engineering highlights is Bridge No. 196, which stands 104 meters high higher than Delhi's Qutub Minar.

Alongside the new line, three express train services were flagged off: a weekly Rajdhani Express between Sairang and Delhi, a tri-weekly Mizoram-Kolkata service, and a daily Sairang-Guwahati intercity express. Freight train services are set to begin the following day, facilitating transport of goods like cement, steel, household items, and local agricultural produce such as dragon fruit. 

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw called the project a "historic milestone" for the Northeast, citing the challenges of construction in young Himalayan geology, logistics and environmental sensitivity. With Aizawl now connected by rail, the move is expected to lower transport costs, spur tourism, create jobs, reduce isolation, and integrate Mizoram more closely with the rest of India.