Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flags off the Sairang–Silchar passenger train after inaugurating new passenger facilities at Guwahati Railway Station.
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Maligaon, February 9 (MExN): Union Minister for Railways, Information and Broadcasting and Electronics and IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on February 8 inaugurated new passenger facilities at Guwahati Railway Station in Assam and flagged off the Sairang–Silchar passenger train service.
The programme was attended by Kanad Purkayastha, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) from Assam, Parimal Suklabaidya, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha), TBC Lalvenchhunga, MLA from Mizoram, and other dignitaries. The initiatives were described as a step towards strengthening rail connectivity and improving passenger amenities across the Northeast.
The newly inaugurated passenger facilities at Guwahati Railway Station have been developed to enhance the overall travel experience by providing clean, safe and comfortable resting facilities. These include modern lounges and sleeping pods, along with dedicated, hygienic and secure amenities for women travellers, aimed at creating a more passenger-friendly station environment in the region.
The Sairang–Silchar passenger train is expected to significantly strengthen rail connectivity between Mizoram and Assam. The service is projected to benefit residents of Silchar and Mizoram by improving access to education, healthcare, markets and administrative centres. It is also expected to boost tourism, facilitate the movement of goods between the two states, enable the supply of goods manufactured in Mizoram to markets in Silchar, and reduce dependence on road transport, particularly in hilly terrain.
Addressing the gathering, the Mizoram Chief Minister said that the launch of the Sairang–Silchar train service represents a major boost to rail connectivity for the state, offering passengers a reliable, comfortable and affordable travel option. He said the service would promote tourism and local economic activities while improving access to education and advanced medical facilities in Silchar, benefiting students and patients from Mizoram.
In his address, Vaishnaw said that extensive work is underway to improve connectivity in Assam and the wider Northeast, with several new projects being taken up and many long-pending projects already completed. He said that over the past 11 years, nearly 1,900 kilometres of new railway tracks have been constructed across the Northeast, marking a transformational phase for rail infrastructure in the region.
The Union Minister said the train service flagged off between Silchar and Sairang adds a new dimension to the benefits being extended to the people of Mizoram and Assam. He noted that the extension of railway connectivity to Sairang had been inaugurated a few months ago by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, followed by the introduction of new train services, and that the government has been receiving positive feedback from citizens regarding improved connectivity to Mizoram.
Vaishnaw further said that the Hon’ble Prime Minister and the Hon’ble Finance Minister have taken a decision to bring a bullet train corridor up to Siliguri via Varanasi and Patna. He said this corridor opens up future possibilities for extending high-speed rail connectivity further towards Guwahati.
