Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh and Ashish Bansal, the newly appointed General Manager of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) Construction Organisation, Maligaon (Assam), held a detailed discussion regarding the ongoing railway project in Manipur at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat on Friday night, officials reported on Saturday.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister was informed that the project is crucial for connecting Imphal with Assam’s Silchar, and the NFR plans to reach the capital by the end of 2028.
In response, the Chief Minister assured that all possible assistance from the state government would be provided to ensure the early completion of the project.
The Noney Bridge, a 141-meter-high and 703-meter-long structure, is being built at a cost of Rs 650 crore as part of the Rs 21,885 crore Jiribam–Imphal railway line.
The bridge is expected to be completed by March 2026, and the entire line by December 2028.
Standing 141 meters high, this engineering marvel surpasses the height of the Eiffel Tower and aims to boost connectivity in the Northeast. The project is targeted for completion by March 2028, which will reduce travel time between Jiribam and Imphal to 2.5 hours.
Additionally, on February 27, 2026, Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma, Union Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Steel, visited Noney to inspect the bridge, accompanied by the local district administration.
Once completed, this project will firmly place Manipur on India’s railway map, transforming connectivity and accessibility across the region, a reflection of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to extend development to every corner of the nation, the Manipur Chief Minister stated.