Aizawl: Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Monday announced in the Assembly that the Centre has sanctioned Rs 97 crore to upgrade the Sairang railway station into a “world-class” facility.
Replying during the budget session, the Chief Minister, who also holds the General Administration Department (GAD) portfolio, said the Ministry of Railways had formally approved the state’s request for the designation. The project, he added, would include vertical and horizontal expansion of existing station buildings, construction of new terminal infrastructure, and extensive beautification works aimed at handling growing passenger traffic.
“Tenders have already been floated, and work is expected to commence shortly,” he told the House.
Beyond passenger services, the government is seeking to position Sairang as a key logistics hub. Lalduhoma said plans were underway for a joint land inspection to facilitate the construction of a large warehouse to support regional trade and local entrepreneurs. He noted that the proposal had been discussed earlier with the Union Railway Minister.
“Initially, the Railway Ministry cited the unavailability of land within the station area. Following our repeated appeals, a joint inspection has now been scheduled. If land is secured, we intend to establish a major warehousing facility,” he said.
The announcement follows the recent inauguration of the Sairang–Silchar rail service, which has further strengthened Mizoram’s connectivity with the national railway network.
The 51.38-km Bairabi–Sairang railway line, among the most challenging projects undertaken by Indian Railways, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 13 last year. The project, executed at a cost of over Rs 8,000 crore, brought Mizoram’s capital Aizawl onto India’s railway map for the first time, making it the fourth State capital in the North-East to be connected by rail.