Rapid Fire
Rail Connectivity in Aizawl
- 10 Jun 2025
- 2 min read
Mizoram’s capital Aizawl has been successfully connected to the national railway network via the Bairabi–Sairang rail line, becoming the 4th Northeastern capital with rail access after Assam (Dispur), Tripura (Agartala), and Arunachal Pradesh (Itanagar).
- Earlier, railway connectivity in Shillong (Meghalaya) faced opposition from Khasi pressure groups, who fear that it may lead to a significant influx of outsiders into the state.
About Indian Railways
- Established in 1853, the country's first train journey covered 21 miles between Bombay and Thane.
- India has the 4th largest railway network in the world, following the US, China and Russia.
- In 2022–23, Indian Railways generated 69% of its internal revenue from freight operations and 24% from passenger services, while the remaining 7% came from other sources such as parcel services, coaching receipts, and platform ticket sales.
- It contributed approximately 1.5% to the GDP in FY24.
- By 2050, India is expected to contribute around 40% of global rail activity.
- The National Rail Plan (NRP) for India 2030 has been formulated to modernize the sector and build a future-ready railway system.
| Read More: Rerouting Indian Railways' Future |
