How tourism in India’s land of blue mountains will get a boost soon

Mizoram is poised for a tourism boost as the state prepares to join India’s railway map with the inauguration of the 51.38-kilometre Bairabi–Sairang railway line on September 13. The new connection, built through some of the most challenging hilly terrain in the Northeast, is being seen as a game-changer for accessibility to the “land of the Blue Mountains” called Mizoram.

The line, constructed at a cost of around ₹8,071 crore, will connect Sairang, just outside Aizawl, with Kolkata through a tri-weekly express train, while introducing a weekly Rajdhani Express to Anand Vihar and a daily express to Guwahati. For the first time, the state capital will enjoy direct railway connectivity with other parts of India, a move expected to draw more domestic and international travellers.

Tourism experts have long argued that poor connectivity was the single biggest obstacle for Mizoram’s growth as a top tourism destination. “Earlier, this was an impediment,” said Raj Basu, convenor of the Association for Conservation of Tourism. He added that the new railway service will attract visitors from West Bengal in particular, a state whose residents are known for their enthusiasm for travel.

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Officials highlighted that the engineering marvel featuring 48 tunnels, 55 major bridges, 87 minor bridges, and one bridge taller than Delhi’s Qutub Minar, could become a draw for visitors.

“The Kolkata-Sairang-Kolkata express train will be a tri-weekly service, providing important connectivity between Mizoram and West Bengal,” an Eastern Railway spokesperson confirmed. Another official noted, “Through the Central government’s Act East policy, the beautiful North-Eastern state of Mizoram, long deprived of railway service due to its difficult geographical conditions and challenging hilly terrain, has now been gifted with the Bairabi–Sairang rail line, providing railway connectivity straight up to the state’s capital, Aizawl.”

Tour operators believe the development will create ripple effects in the hospitality sector. With growing numbers of female entrepreneurs running homestays, Mizoram is already attracting all-women travel groups in significant numbers. “The state has come up as a post-COVID destination because of its natural beauty and curiosity among people to visit areas bordering Myanmar,” Basu said, adding that Mizoram’s reputation as a safe, welcoming state makes it appealing.

Beyond convenience, the new line is expected to bring multidimensional benefits, stimulating local businesses, encouraging cross-border trade and, most importantly, placing Mizoram firmly on the tourism map of India.