Despite many challenges, topographical, climatic and more, the push of railways in North East is commendable. One of such commendable work is the railway track between Bairobi and Sairang in Mizoram.
This 51.8 kilometre long railway track passes through 32 tunnels and 55 bridges, is definitely an engineering marvel. The tallest bridge being 104 metres high.
The project is carried out with a budget of Rs. 800 crores.
ENTRY OF RAILWAYS IN THE NORTHEAST INDIA
The history of railways in the North East India dates back to 1881, when the Assam Railway and Trading Company, under the British rule, started a route from Dibrugarh to Margherita via Makum, in Assam, to export coal and tea.
NECESSITY AND IMPORTANCE
The shared Indian border with China, Myanmar, Bhutan and Bangladesh, make railways in the North East a necessity of strategic importance.
Secondly, it brought in economic development.
Thirdly, Connection with rest of the country through railways boosted tourism and created several direct and indirect jobs.
WHICH STATES OF THE NORTH EAST ARE CONNECTED WITH RAILWAYS?
Assam
Railways came to Assam way back in 1881, during the British rule, to export coal and tea. Railways in Assam is well connected with the rest of the Country. The North East Frontier Railway, setup in 15 January 1958, is headquartered in Maligaon, Guwahati, operating in Assam, West Bengal, Nagaland, Tripura, Sikkim, Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Bihar.
NAGALAND
Nagaland is the second state of the North East to have rail connectivity.
It started in 1903 by the Assam Bengal Railway, as a part of then Assam, with the Dimapur Railway Station, as a part from Chittagong to Lumding line.
TRIPURA
The history of railways in Tripura can be traced back to 1964(then part of Assam). Tripura got its first share if Broad Gauge Railways in 2016.
ARUNACHAL PRADESH
The land of the rising Sun got its first railway station at Naharlagun near Itanagar in 2014. Plans for expansion is going on, yet it is often said to be the last railway station of India in the east.
MEGHALAYA
Meghalaya got is share of railways in 2014 in the Garo Hills district with Mendipathar as the first railway station.
MIZORAM
Railways entered Mizoram in 2016, with Bairobi as its entry point, which is a part of the commendable Bairobi-Sairang track.
MANIPUR
Manipur got its share of railways in 2022, with Jiribam as the gateway to the state.
The world’s tallest railway pier bridge, is a part of the under construction Jiribam-Imphal railway line and it is expected to be completed by 2027.
SIKKIM
Sikkim is the only state in the North East India that does not have a railway station. However, a railway station in Pakyong district of Sikkim is under construction as a part of the Sevoke-Rangpo railway line, and it is expected to be completed soon.
SUMMARY TABLE
| STATE | RAILWAY | IS CAPITAL CITY CONNECTED? | REMARKS AS OF 2025 |
| Assam | Yes | Yes | Fully Functional |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Yes | Yes | Functional |
| Manipur | Yes | To be commissioned soon | Partially functional |
| Meghalaya | Yes | No | Partially functional |
| Mizoram | Yes | To be commissioned soon | Partially functional |
| Nagaland | Yes | To be commissioned soon | Partially functional |
| Tripura | Yes | Yes | Fully Functional |
| Sikkim | No | No | Work is in Progress |
FAQs
Which Indian State does not have a Railway Station?
Sikkim is the only state in India which is not connected with railway network yet.
Where is the World’s tallest railway pier bridge located?
The World’s tallest railway pier bridge or Noney Bridge located in Manipur. It is a part of the 111 km Jiribam-Imphal railway network. It is 141 metres high and 703 metres long.
Which is the World’s highest railway bridge?
The World’s highest railway bridge is the Chenab Bridge in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir. It is a part of the Jammu-Baramulla line, connecting Kauri and Bakkal. It is at a height of 359 metres above the Chenab river and it is 1,315 metres long.
