PM Modi unveils Rs 9000 cr development package for Mizoram, inaugurates historic rail link to Aizawl
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced a development push of more than 9,000 crore rupees ($1.1 billion) for Mizoram, including the inauguration of the state’s first rail link to its capital, Aizawl — a project he hailed as a historic milestone for India’s Northeast. While poor weather prevented Modi from attending a public gathering in the city, he addressed the people virtually from Lengpui Airport and expressed gratitude for what he called the “warm reception of the Mizo people.” The highlight of the day was the launch of the 51.4-kilometer Bairabi-Sairang rail line, built at a cost of 8,070 crore rupees. The line connects Aizawl to India’s railway network for the first time, with Sairang set to be linked to Delhi by the Rajdhani Express. Modi called the project a “lifeline of transformation” for Mizoram and the broader Northeast. “This is not just a railway track,” Modi said. “It will bring progress in agriculture, education, healthcare, tourism, transport and employment for the people of Mizoram.” The project posed major engineering challenges due to the hilly terrain, requiring 45 tunnels, 55 major bridges and 88 smaller bridges. Modi praised the engineers and workers who carried out the construction in difficult conditions. The prime minister also used his address to attack what he described as decades of “vote-bank politics” by previous governments, which he said neglected the Northeast because of its small number of parliamentary seats. “Our government has brought those who were kept on the margins into the mainstream,” he said. Modi highlighted his government’s record in the region over the past 11 years, citing investments in rural roads, national highways, internet connectivity, electricity, LPG and clean drinking water. He said Mizoram will also benefit from expanded air services under the UDAN scheme, with new helicopter routes to remote areas starting soon. Underlining Mizoram’s strategic importance, Modi said the state is central to India’s Act East Policy, which seeks closer economic ties with Southeast Asia. He noted projects such as the Kaladan Multimodal Transport initiative and the planned Sairang-Hmawngbuchhuah rail link, which will connect Mizoram to the Bay of Bengal and beyond. The prime minister also focused on youth and entrepreneurship. He said the region already hosts more than 4,500 startups and 25 incubators, while residential schools under the A-Club model are expanding. “The innovation ecosystem is growing in the Northeast, and Mizoram’s youth are at its center,” Modi said. Sport was another theme of the address, with Modi praising Mizoram’s football culture and promising more infrastructure under the Khelo India scheme. He said a new national sports policy will boost opportunities and strengthen the sports economy. Modi encouraged promotion of local products such as bamboo, organic ginger, turmeric and bananas, while pointing to tax reforms under the Goods and Services Tax that reduced costs of essential goods. Citing India’s 7.8% GDP growth in the first quarter of the current fiscal year, Modi described the country as the fastest-growing major economy. He said economic growth was tied to national security, referencing Operation Sindoor, where domestically produced weapons played a role. “Mizoram is not only a part of India’s story of development but also a crucial partner in building a developed India,” Modi said. The inauguration of the Bairabi-Sairang rail line, long awaited by the people of Mizoram, is expected to redefine connectivity in the state and give a major push to economic growth across the Northeast.
