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North Eastern Railway Connectivity Project

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North Eastern Railway Connectivity Project is an multi phased railway connectivity project in Northeast India which comprises states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura and it also includes the state of Sikkim. These states come under Northeast Frontier Railway Zone of Indian Railways. This Railway project is considered as strategically important for India because it connects all the border states in this region and also close to ASEAN countries.

The Government of India has planned and projected to connect all capitals of North Eastern states by 2023.[1]

Background

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Northeast Region or popularly known as Seven Sister states are strategically important areas to counter China. These state are connected to India through very narrow area of Siliguri Corridor also named as Chicken's neck. After China's claims over Doklam area of Bhutan and India. It becomes important for India to boost connectivity in this region.[2][3] During the Sino-Indian War and Nathu La and Cho La clashes came closure to border and build villages near border with Bhutan, India and Nepal.[4]

Under prosperous project by PM Narendra Modi PM Gati Shakti which was launched in 2021 with aim to boost connectivity across the country and to connect all the capitals of Indian state.[5] Especially this region is considered as Gateway to Southeast Asia. Thus strategic railway lines is important for this region. The region currently has 6,829 km of rail network mostly in the state of Assam.

Also to develop tourism in this region railways is major medium.[6] In 2023, various deluxe train started which will tour passenger with major locations like Kamakhya Temple, Guwahati,Kaziranga National Park in Assam, Unakoti in Tripura, Cherrapunji in Meghalaya, Dimapur in Nagaland etcetera locations.[7][8]

Currently there are three capitals which are linked with railways, they are: Guwahati, Itanagar and Agartala.[9]

List of Railway lines

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Under construction

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Project Location States Length (in Kilometre) Notes
Sivok–Rangpo line From Sivok, Darjeeling district(WB)
To Rangpo, Pakyong district(SK) 		West Bengal and Sikkim 44.96 [10]
Bairabi–Sairang line From Bairabi, Kolasib district

To Sairang, Aizawl district

Mizoram 51.38 [11]
Jiribam–Imphal line From Jiribam, Jiribam district

To Imphal, Imphal district

Manipur 110.63 [12]
Dhansiri–Zubza line From Dhansiri(Dimapur), Dimapur district

To Zubza,Kohima district

Nagaland 82.5 [13]
Tetelia-Byrnihat line From Tetelia(Guwahati), Kamrup district

To Byrnihat, Ri-Bhoi district

Assam and Meghalaya 22 [14]

Proposed

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Project Location States Length (in kilometre) Note References
Bhalukpong–Tenga–Tawang line From Bhalukpong, West Kameng district

To Tawang, Tawang district

Arunachal Pradesh 378 [15]
North Lakhimpur–Bame–Silapathar line From North Lakhimpur, Lakhimpur district(AS)

Via Aalo and Bame, West Siang district(AR)

To Silapathar, Dhemaji district(AS)

Assam and Arunachal Pradesh 247.85 [16]
Pasighat–Tezu–Rupai line From

Rupai, Tinsukia district(AS)

Via Tezu, Lohit district(AR)

To Pasighat, East Siang district(AR)

Assam and Arunachal Pradesh 227 [17]
Murkongselek–Pasighat line FromMurkongselek(AS)

To Pasighat(AR)

Assam and Arunachal Pradesh 26.15 [18]
Imphal–Moreh line From Imphal, Imphal district

To Moreh, Tengnoupal district

Manipur 111 [19]
Byrnihat-Shillong line From Byrnihat, Ri-Bhoi district

To Shillong, East Khasi Hills district

Meghalaya 108 [20]
Sairiang-Hmawngbuchhuah line From Sairang, Aizawl district

To Hmawngbuchhuah, Lawngtlai district

Mizoram 223 [21]
Rangpo-Gangtok line From Rangpo, Pakyong district

To Gangtok, Gangtok district

Sikkim 44 It will be the second phase of Sivok-Ranhpo line and which will be the last state capital to be connected via a railway line [22]
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The Government of two countries signed MoU for railway project linking Akhaurah, Bangladesh and Agartala of Tripura, India.[23] The project is expected to be completed in mid-2023.[24] NFR also conducted surveys for Belonia-Chittagong rail link.[25]

Trans–Asian railway

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In Northeast India, the government is developing multiple railway projects to connect the region with the Trans-Asian Railway (TAR). A key project is the 118-km railway line from Imphal in Manipur to Moreh on the Myanmar border, aimed at improving access to the TAR.[19] Additionally, a route from Tripura to Bangladesh is proposed to enhance the region's integration into the TAR network.[23]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Standard (2020-07-18). "N-E state capitals to be connected via rail network by 2023: Railway Board". www.business-standard.com. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  2. ^ "Bhutan PM's Pro-China Doklam Stance Shocks India, Denies Intrusion. Siliguri Corridor At Risk Now?". TimesNow. 2023-03-29. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  3. ^ "Army stress on Siliguri corridor". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  4. ^ "Road to Doklam: Landmarks near Doka La Pass where India and China engaged in an eyeball war - The New Indian Express". www.newindianexpress.com. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  5. ^ "Northeast Frontier Railway thrust on implementing PM Gati Shakti swiftly". Firstpost. 2022-09-03. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  6. ^ "All you need to know about Bharat Gaurav tourist train to northeast". mint. 2023-03-19. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  7. ^ "Railways to launch Bharat Gaurav train to northeast on March 21". The Economic Times. 2023-03-04. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  8. ^ "Indian Railways To Launch Bharat Gaurav Express In Northeast". guwahatiplus.com. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  9. ^ "NE capitals which are on Rail map". The Print. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  10. ^ "Sivok- Rangpo rail project inching to bring Sikkim on Railways map, work on 6th tunnel finished | The Financial Express". www.financialexpress.com. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  11. ^ Singh, Bikash (2022-12-20). "Bairabi-Sairang rail project to be completed soon". The Economic Times. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  12. ^ "Massive push to railway infrastructure under way in Northeast". The Indian Express. 2015-07-02. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  13. ^ "Phase 1 of Dimapur-Zubza railway line completed - Eastern Mirror". easternmirrornagaland.com. 2022-02-10. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  14. ^ "Byrnihat railway project faces another hurdle". The Shillong Times. 2022-08-22. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  15. ^ "Train to Tawang near China border in Arunachal closer to reality". Hindustan Times. 2017-04-01. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  16. ^ www.ETInfra.com. "Why India must fast-track its railways in Arunachal to deter China - ET Infra". ETInfra.com. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  17. ^ "Final location survey of 3 railway projects in Arunachal in full swing: Rly Min | The Arunachal Times". Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  18. ^ "NE rail connectivity expansion 'topmost priority' of Central Government: NFR". MorungExpress. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  19. ^ a b Desk, Sentinel Digital (2022-02-04). "Imphal-Moreh rail line survey on track - Sentinelassam". The Sentinel Assam. Retrieved 2023-03-31. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  20. ^ "NFR to make fresh push for Byrnihat-Shillong rail line". The Shillong Times. 2023-03-13. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  21. ^ Desk, Sentinel Digital (2022-09-05). "Sairang-Hmawngbuchhuah railway project in Northeast to be revived soon - Sentinelassam". The Sentinel Assam. Retrieved 2023-03-31. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  22. ^ Dhungel, Pankaj (2023-03-07). "Will Sikkim get a rail link till the China border?". EastMojo. Retrieved 2023-07-12.
  23. ^ a b "Work on new India-Bangladesh railway link from 2015". The Times of India. 2014-06-17. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  24. ^ "Agartala-Akhaura rail project to be completed in next 4-5 months: NFR official". Hindustan Times. 2022-10-12. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  25. ^ "Welcome to North East Frontier Railway / Indian Railways Portal". nfr.indianrailways.gov.in. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
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