Aizawl: Sairang railway station recorded more than 5.54 lakh passenger movements in its first year of operation, with an average of over 3,300 passengers using the station daily, according to a statement issued by the Association for Protection of Indigenous People (APIB).
The milestone marks one year since rail connectivity reached Sairang, near Mizoram’s capital Aizawl. During the period, more than 2,500 railway freight wagons were delivered at the station, including 156 wagons carrying automobiles.
The Bairabi-Sairang railway line, described as an engineering marvel, traverses Mizoram’s steep hills, deep valleys and gorges. The project comprises 153 bridges, including 55 major bridges, 88 minor bridges and 10 road overbridges or underbridges.
Six of the bridges are more than 70 metres high, with the tallest standing at 114 metres — 42 metres higher than Delhi’s Qutub Minar.
The railway alignment also passes through 45 tunnels spanning nearly 16 kilometres. The corridor extends the national railway network from Bairabi through the newly developed stations of Hortoki, Kawnpui, Mualkhang and Sairang, bringing rail connectivity to the doorstep of Aizawl.
According to the APIB statement, passenger services have recorded high occupancy levels. The tri-weekly Sairang-Kolkata train has registered average occupancy of more than 140%, while the daily Sairang-Guwahati service has consistently recorded occupancy above 110%. The Sairang-Anand Vihar Rajdhani Express has recorded average occupancy of over 145%.
Together, the services have generated Rs 54 crore in ticket sales for the Indian Railways, the statement said.
The first railway cargo train reached Sairang on September 14, 2025, a day after the inauguration of the new line. It carried more than 26,000 bags of cement from the STAR Cement siding at Tetelia near Guwahati.
The arrival contributed to a reduction in cement prices in Aizawl, highlighting the potential of rail transport to lower logistics costs and support regional economic development.
The first automobile consignment, comprising 119 Maruti cars from Changsari near Guwahati, reached Sairang by rail in December 2025. Since then, automobile rakes have provided a safer, higher-capacity channel for transporting vehicles to Mizoram while helping reduce logistics costs.
Of the more than 2,500 freight wagons delivered during the year, around 70% carried construction materials, including cement, stone and sand. These materials have supported housing and public works while reducing transportation time and costs.
Other consignments included rice, fertilisers and other essential commodities. Fertiliser and foodgrain deliveries have supported agriculture and the public distribution system, while rail transport has helped shift bulk movement away from long-distance road journeys.
The station has also become part of the surrounding community, with local residents undertaking tree plantation and other environmental initiatives around the station complex.
Railways is also providing a route for Mizoram’s handloom, bamboo, cane and craft products to reach wider markets. The first parcel consignment from Sairang was booked on September 19, 2025, carrying anthurium flowers to Delhi in the parcel van of the Sairang-Anand Vihar Rajdhani Express.
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