After 76 years of independence, India’s last state joins the railway map
Seventy-six years after independence, India’s last ‘ignored’ state finally gets, much needed, railway connectivity. But behind the ceremonial flag-off lies a troubling reality: ₹8,071 crores for 51 kilometres, 26 worker deaths, and uncertain economic viability. Complex infrastructure initiatives frequently burden the economy through inefficient operational governance. The government must ensure this critical initiative maintains economic viability while delivering, much delayed, essential progress.
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off Mizoram’s maiden Rajdhani Express on Saturday, the ceremonial moment masked a harder truth: this 51.38-kilometer railway line cost ₹8,071 crores, making it among the world’s most expensive rail projects per kilometer. Behind the triumphant rhetoric of “bridging dreams and reality” lies a complex narrative of engineering excellence, bureaucratic delays, and strategic imperatives that demands critical examination.
The Bairabi-Sairang railway section represents more than infrastructure; it’s a microcosm of India’s development challenges. Sanctioned in 2008-09 with an original estimate of ₹619 crores, the project ballooned to thirteen times its initial cost by completion. This staggering 1,200% escalation isn’t merely inflation, it’s symptomatic of systematic planning failures that plague Indian mega-projects.
The human cost was equally severe. The 2023 Sairang bridge collapse that killed 26 workers remains a sobering reminder that engineering marvels often come with tragic footnotes. While celebrating technical achievements; including India’s tallest railway pier at 104 meters, 45 tunnels, and 142 bridges across treacherous terrain – we cannot ignore the price paid in lives and exchequer resources.
The Strategic Calculus: More Than Tracks and Trains
Mizoram’s railway connection serves multiple strategic purposes beyond passenger convenience. In the context of China’s expanding influence through the Belt and Road Initiative, connecting India’s northeastern frontier becomes a national security imperative. The railway facilitates military logistics, enables resource extraction from mineral-rich regions, and symbolically reinforces sovereignty over border areas.
However, strategic value doesn’t automatically translate to economic viability. Mizoram’s agrarian economy, dependent largely on bamboo cultivation and government employment, may struggle to generate freight traffic justifying this massive investment. The state’s population of 1.2 million translates to ₹6.7 lakhs spent per citizen, a figure that demands scrutiny regarding alternative development priorities.
The broader Act East Policy, with ₹77,000 crores allocated for northeastern railway development, positions this project within India’s larger geopolitical strategy. Yet without complementary industrial development, these railways risk becoming expensive symbols rather than economic catalysts.
Beyond Celebration: The Sustainability Question
The real test lies ahead. Railway connectivity must translate into tangible benefits: job creation, market access for local products, and improved quality of life. Mizoram’s unique challenges, including insurgency history, difficult terrain, and environmental sensitivity, require nuanced development approaches that respect tribal rights and ecological constraints.
The project’s environmental impact, particularly in biodiversity-rich northeastern landscapes, demands ongoing monitoring. Cultural preservation becomes equally critical as connectivity accelerates outside influence on traditional communities.
Furthermore, operational sustainability remains questionable. High maintenance costs in challenging terrain, limited passenger demand, and freight potential uncertainty raise concerns about long-term viability. The Rajdhani Express’s success will depend on consistent ridership and cargo volumes – metrics that remain unproven.
Chief Minister Lalduhoma’s description of the railway as “bridging dreams and reality” captures the emotional significance for Mizoram’s people. Yet sustainable development requires moving beyond symbolism to measurable outcomes. Success will be determined not by inaugural celebrations but by economic indicators, employment generation, and regional stability over the coming decade.
Mizoram’s railway connection represents both achievement and accountability challenge, proving that India can execute complex infrastructure projects while questioning whether such expensive connectivity truly serves long-term development goals.
About The Author
