North Eastern Railway Connectivity Project

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 2030est.^[1]

Background

The Northeast region is a strategically important area to counter China. These state are connected to India through the very narrow area of Siliguri Corridor. After China's claims over the Doklam area of Bhutan and India, it has become important for India to boost connectivity in this region.^[2][3]

The project PM Gati Shakti aims to boost connectivity across the country and to connect all the capitals of Indian states.^[4] 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.

The railway will also be used to develop tourism in this region.^[5] In 2023, various deluxe trains begans operations connecting major locations such as Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati (Assam), Kaziranga National Park in Assam, Unakoti in Tripura, Cherrapunji in Meghalaya, and Dimapur in Nagaland.^[6][7]

Currently the three capitals Guwahati, Itanagar and Agartala are linked with railways.^[8]

List of Railway lines

By states

See map of under-construction rail lines in Northeast India.

• Railway in Arunachal Pradesh

• Railway in Assam

• Railway in Manipur

• Railway in Meghalaya

• Railway in Mizoram

• Railway in Nagaland

• Railway in Sikkim

• Railway in Tripura

Under construction

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	[9]
Bairabi–Sairang line	From Bairabi, Kolasib district To Sairang, Aizawl district	Mizoram	51.38	[10]
Jiribam–Imphal line	From Jiribam, Jiribam district To Imphal, Imphal district	Manipur	110.63	[11]
Dhansiri–Zubza line	From Dhansiri(Dimapur), Dimapur district To Zubza,Kohima district	Nagaland	82.5	[12]
Tetelia-Byrnihat line	From Tetelia(Guwahati), Kamrup district To Byrnihat, Ri-Bhoi district	Assam and Meghalaya	22	[13]

Proposed

Project	Location	States	Length (in kilometre)	Note	References
Bhalukpong–Tenga–Tawang line	From Bhalukpong, West Kameng district To Tawang, Tawang district	Arunachal Pradesh	378		[14]
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		[15]
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		[16]
Murkongselek–Pasighat line	FromMurkongselek(AS) To Pasighat(AR)	Assam and Arunachal Pradesh	26.15		[17]
Imphal–Moreh line	From Imphal, Imphal district To Moreh, Tengnoupal district	Manipur	111		[18]
Byrnihat-Shillong line	From Byrnihat, Ri-Bhoi district To Shillong, East Khasi Hills district	Meghalaya	108		[19]
Sairiang-Hmawngbuchhuah line	From Sairang, Aizawl district To Hmawngbuchhuah, Lawngtlai district	Mizoram	223		[20]
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	[21]

India–Bangladesh rail link

The Government of two countries signed MoU for railway project linking Akhaurah, Bangladesh and Agartala of Tripura, India.^[22] The project is expected to be completed in mid-2023.^[23] NFR also conducted surveys for Belonia-Chittagong rail link.^[24]

India-Bhutan rail link

See rail transport in Bhutan.

Trans–Asian railway

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.^[18] Additionally, a route from Tripura to Bangladesh is proposed to enhance the region's integration into the TAR network.^[22]

See also

• Northeast India
  • Northeast Connectivity projects
  • BCIM Economic Corridor
  • List of bridges on Brahmaputra River

• India-China
  • Geostrategic railways under-construction in India
  • India-China Border Roads
  • China–India railway

• Others
  • List of megaprojects in India
  • Asian Highway Network