Aizawl: More than 5.54 lakh passengers have travelled on train services connecting Sairang with Guwahati, Kolkata, Delhi and Silchar in the year since the inauguration of the 51.38-km Bairabi-Sairang railway line and Sairang station.According to a PIB statement, the line, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sept 13, 2025, has completed more than 1,100 train trips. Passenger demand has remained high, with occupancy exceeding 100% on all trains. The tri-weekly Sairang-Kolkata service recorded average occupancy of more than 140%, while the daily Sairang-Guwahati service averaged above 110%. Sairang-Anand Vihar Rajdhani Express recorded average occupancy of more than 145%. Ticket sales from the services totalled Rs 54 crore, according to PIB.Sairang station handled more than 5.54 lakh passenger movements during the year, with an average of about 3,300 passengers a day. The station has also been used for community activities, including tree plantation and other environmental initiatives, the statement said.The rail link has given Mizoram direct services to Guwahati, Kolkata and Delhi. Sairang-Silchar passenger service, inaugurated in Jan 2026, added a regular connection to Assam’s Barak Valley. The services have improved access to educational, medical and commercial centres, while also providing an alternative to air and road travel.PIB statement said tourism in Mizoram had increased by more than 86% since the introduction of rail services. It attributed the wider benefits to increased movement of visitors and goods, supporting hotels, homestays, restaurants, taxis, guides, cultural enterprises and local markets.The connectivity has also expanded practical access for students to universities, professional institutes, coaching centres, examinations and academic events outside the state. It has helped Mizoram host educational, sporting, cultural and official events with wider participation.The railway has also begun carrying freight to Mizoram. The first cargo train reached Sairang on Sept 14, 2025, carrying more than 26,000 bags of cement from Tetelia near Guwahati. In Dec 2025, the first automobile consignment — 119 Maruti cars from Changsari near Guwahati — arrived at Sairang.More than 2,500 freight wagons have been delivered at Sairang in the past year, the statement said. About 70% carried construction materials, including cement, stone and sand. Other consignments included rice, fertiliser and automobiles, with 156 wagons carrying vehicles. The freight services are intended to reduce reliance on long road journeys and lower logistics costs for essential commodities, construction materials and automobiles.
