Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday inaugurated blended hospitality services at Guwahati Railway Station and flagged off a new passenger train between Sairang and Silchar, giving a fresh push to rail connectivity and infrastructure development in the Northeast.
The events were held through video conferencing and were attended by Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma, Silchar Member of Parliament Parimal Suklabaidya, Rajya Sabha MP Kanad Purkayastha, and other dignitaries.
The newly introduced Sairang-Silchar passenger train will directly connect Mizoram’s capital with Assam’s Barak Valley, significantly improving regional integration. The service is expected to benefit students, daily commuters, and patients by providing safer, faster, and more comfortable travel between the two regions.
At Guwahati Railway Station, the launch of blended hospitality services marks a step towards enhancing passenger comfort. The new facilities include sleeping pods, a modern air-conditioned lounge, and multi-cuisine restaurants aimed at providing a hygienic, convenient, and customer-friendly travel experience. The Ministry of Railway said these amenities would improve station usability by offering safe and restful spaces for travellers.
Addressing the gathering, Vaishnaw said the government has substantially increased investment in railway infrastructure in the Northeast over the past decade. He noted that the Union Budget 2026–27 has allocated a record ₹11,486 crore for railway projects in the region, while projects worth around ₹72,468 crore are currently underway.
The minister said the renewed focus on the Northeast reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a “Viksit Bharat,” where development is inclusive and every region progresses together. He emphasised that improved rail connectivity not only eases passenger movement but also boosts economic activity by facilitating the transport of goods, strengthening trade, and opening new markets for local products.
Vaishnaw highlighted the completion of the technically challenging Bairabi-Sairang railway line, which has connected Mizoram’s capital to the Indian Railways network for the first time. Inaugurated earlier by the Prime Minister, the line will now be supported by additional train services to further enhance connectivity between Mizoram, Assam, and the rest of the country.
He said the introduction of the Sairang–Silchar passenger service would significantly strengthen regional integration, benefiting residents of southern Assam, Mizoram, and neighbouring northeastern states.
Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma thanked the Railway Minister for prioritising connectivity in the region and highlighted the positive impact of ongoing railway projects linking Mizoram and Assam.
The Ministry of Railways said that the railway network in the Northeast has undergone rapid transformation over the past decade, with several long-pending projects reaching completion and state capitals gradually being connected to the national rail network. The commissioning of the 51-km Bairabi–Sairang broad-gauge line last year brought Aizawl onto India’s railway map for the first time, and the extension of passenger services up to Silchar is expected to further improve mobility and drive economic growth across the region.
