An Indian Railways engine arrived at the new Khongsang railway station in Manipur earlier this week as a part of a trial run for the hill town’s first passenger train. This is on the heels of the first goods train arriving in the region in January, and both are being hailed for significantly improving connectivity in the North East. By Eshita Srinivas
Residents of Khongsang, a hill town in Manipur, gathered at the newly-constructed railway station to welcome their region’s first passenger train engine on Monday. Traditional dances by the Rongmei tribe were performed as well. The Chief Minister of Manipur Nongthombam Biren Singh, as well as the Minister of Railways, Communication, Electronics, and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw, took to Twitter to celebrate the milestone, adding that the move would further improve connectivity in North East India.
The first train in Manipur’s Khongsang station is a part of the Jiribam-Imphal railway line project
North-East Connectivity gets a Boost!
Indian Railways reaches Khongsang in Manipur:
First Train Engine reached at Khongsang station in Manipur under Jiribam-Imphal Rly line project.
People of Manipur expressed their joy with their traditional dance. pic.twitter.com/JisaAgA4IV— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) March 14, 2022
The first train head engine without passenger bodies pulled in at the Khongsang station as a part of the Jiribam-Imphal railway line project. The Jiribam-Imphal railway line project is an ambitious attempt to improve connectivity in the hilly terrain of Manipur and will feature 11 stations covering five districts of Manipur, from Jiribam to the capital Imphal with a broad gauge network. It includes the construction of a bridge over the Barak river, the largest in the state. Once completed, the state will also be home to the world’s tallest railway bridge pier at Noney Valley, at a height of 141 metres, a report by The Eastern Mirror, Nagaland states.
Senior officials of the Northeast Frontier Railways accompanied the train from Jiribam as it made its way through stunning landscapes of Rani Gaidinliu and Thingou railway stations to reach its destination, covering a distance of 62 kilometres. The state’s Chief Minister stated that the initiative would boost the economy of the state, Guwahati Plus reports.
People of Manipur welcoming the train engine on it reaching the Khongsang station in Manipur. Another milestone of the Jiribam – Imphal new railway line project under capital connectivity of NE states achieved @RailMinIndia
@PIBImphal pic.twitter.com/WBFWB7LeGO— Northeast Frontier Railway (@RailNf) March 14, 2022
The first passenger train was flagged off from Assam in 2014 and the first goods train arrived in Manipur in January. The first Janshatabdi express train, connecting the states of Manipur and Tripura through Assam was also launched this year. These milestones reflect the government’s emphasis on improving infrastructure in the North East, Financial Express reports.
The 111-kilometre long Imphal-Jiribam railway line is being constructed at a cost of INR 14,322 crore, as per a report by Hindustan Times, and will be completed by December 2023.
Representative feature and hero image: Shutterstock
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Written By
Eshita Srinivas
Eshita is a food, alcohol, travel, and entertainment writer who spends her days zeroing in on the next big trend to write about. She’s a communication graduate with bylines in Conde Nast Traveller India, GQ India, Deccan Herald, and Girls Buzz. When not at work, you’re likely to find her hunting for a good read or charting out the perfect itinerary ..Read More
