Mizoram study committee seeks insight from Nagaland on rail connectivity and Kaladan Project

The planning & programme implementation department, government of Mizoram had a meeting with the stakeholders at the DC’s Conference Hall, Dimapur on February 5, 2026. The team was led by MLA & Chairman of the Study Committee on KMMTTP & Railway Line Services, T. Lalhlimpula, to discuss the new railway services in Mizoram.
According to DIPR report, MLA T. Lalhlimpula, expressed sincere gratitude to the government of Nagaland for convening the meeting and for the warm hospitality extended to the visiting delegation from Mizoram. He also conveyed his gratitude on behalf of the government of Mizoram and the Study Committee to MLA, Achumbemo for facilitating and coordinating with the Nagaland government.
He said the dialogue focused on two major infrastructure initiatives expected to shape the future of the region—the proposed railway line from Bairabi to Sairang in Mizoram and the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMMTTP).
He highlighted that the KMMTTP aims to connect Kolkata to Sittwe port in Myanmar by sea, further extending through inland waterways to Paletwa and by road to Mizoram. Funded by the government of India and targeted for completion by 2027, the project is expected to provide a crucial alternative connectivity route to the North-Eastern states by bypassing the Siliguri corridor and reducing travel distance by over 700 kilometres.
Referring to Dimapur as a city deeply shaped by railway connectivity, Lalhlimpula said the committee’s visit was not for abstract discussions but to draw from Nagaland’s long-standing experience in rail infrastructure to help guide future projects in Mizoram.
He informed that the member of the study committee was constituted to examine the socio-cultural and economic impacts of railway connectivity, particularly in tribal areas. Over the past months, the committee has conducted field visits and community consultations across southern Mizoram, engaging village leaders, youth groups, civil society organisations, and local communities to assess perceptions, expectations, and concerns related to railway expansion.
He noted that Nagaland, with its century-old railway history dating back to 1903, offers valuable lessons for Mizoram, which saw Bairabi connected by broad gauge rail only in 2016 and Aizawl linked by rail in September 2025.
He highlighted, shared socio-cultural and religious similarities between the two states, where Christianity plays a central role in social, cultural, and community life. The primary objective of the visit, he stated is to understand how railway connectivity impacts social structures, cultural practices, and economic transformation, and to learn how Nagaland has managed both the opportunities and challenges arising from improved connectivity.
Emphasising that enhanced connectivity brings both growth prospects and concerns related to culture, identity, and livelihoods, the Mizoram delegation expressed keenness to learn from Nagaland’s experiences—positive and negative—to maximise benefits while minimising adverse impacts. He hoped that the interaction would strengthen cooperation and mutual understanding between the two states and lead to informed planning for future infrastructure development in Mizoram.
Member study Committee, Zomuana in his PowerPoint presentation, highlighted on KMMTT and Railway line in Mizoram. He pointed that the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMMTTP), launched by the government of India in 2008 is set to significantly enhance connectivity and economic prospects for Mizoram and the Northeast. The project will provide an alternative trade route linking Kolkata to Aizawl through sea, river and land corridors via Myanmar and is expected to become operational by 2027.
The corridor, spanning about 880 km, includes nearly 90 km within Mizoram and is expected to benefit Mizoram, Tripura and lower Assam. Preparatory measures by the state include field studies, stakeholder consultations and visits to ports in Kolkata and Myanmar, with a final report due by August–September.
Meanwhile, rail connectivity in Mizoram has made steady progress. Bairabi railway station was opened in 2016, while the Sairang station near Aizawl was completed in 2025. Daily train services now operate between Guwahati and Sairang, with twice-weekly services to New Delhi and Kolkata.
The meeting concluded on a positive note with a vote of thanks proposed by DC, Dimapur, Tinojongshi Chang. The meeting had a brain storming interaction with the stakeholders on the social, cultural, economic and developmental implications of the railway project, highlighting both positive and negative effects.