Sairang Railway Station Sees Surge in Passenger and Freight Traffic
Significant Growth in Railway Usage
A file image of the Sairang railway station, Mizoram, (Photo: X)
Aizawl, Sept 14: In the year following Mizoram's integration into the national railway network, Sairang Railway Station has welcomed over 554,000 passengers. This new rail connection has revolutionized the transport of goods in this remote hilly region, replacing slower road transport with efficient bulk freight services.
A recent announcement from the Press Information Bureau (PIB) highlighted that since its launch by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the 51.38-km Bairabi-Sairang line has facilitated more than 1,100 train journeys.
Services linking Sairang to major cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, and Silchar have received an enthusiastic response. The Sairang-Kolkata route has seen an average occupancy exceeding 140%, while the Rajdhani Express to Anand Vihar has achieved over 145% occupancy. Ticket sales have generated approximately ₹54 crore in revenue.
Freight transport has also seen a significant boost, with over 2,500 wagons arriving at Sairang within the year. Construction materials made up about 70% of the cargo, alongside shipments of rice, fertilizers, and automobiles.
The inaugural freight train arrived just a day after the line's opening, transporting over 26,000 bags of cement. Additionally, the first shipment of 119 cars reached Sairang by rail in December of the previous year.
The PIB noted that enhanced rail connectivity has led to an impressive 86% increase in tourism in Mizoram, offering travelers a viable alternative to air travel and lengthy road trips.
On another note, train services to Mizoram resumed on Sunday after the Northeast Frontier Railway repaired a rain-damaged section of track between Jamira in Assam and Bairabi in Mizoram, concluding a 10-day disruption on the Katakhal-Bairabi route.
The affected section was cleared for operations following a successful trial run on Friday evening, where a locomotive with a single coach traversed the restored track to ensure its safety.