Advertisement
The Gulf conflict has disrupted global supply chains, pushed...
REITs have changed the way commercial real estate is owned a...
What does it take to preserve a real estate legacy while bui...
What really powers the cloud? Behind every Google search, A...
A lot of what defines a home isn’t visible at handover. I...
Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has reviewed the progress of the 110.625-km Jiribam-Imphal new railway line in Manipur, with focus on ongoing construction and preparations for a Commission of Railway Safety inspection planned for October. The project is one of the most challenging railway works in the Northeast because of its hilly terrain, extensive tunnels and bridges. The line includes 54 tunnels with a combined length of about 66.47 km and 131 bridges, including the 141-metre-high bridge at Noney. Two sections are already operational, while work on the remaining stretches is progressing in phases.
Northeast Frontier Railway (Construction) General Manager Ashish Bansal recently inspected the Jiribam-Khongsang, Khongsang-Awangkhul and Awangkhul-Imphal sections of the project. The inspection covered ongoing construction activities and the status of key railway infrastructure along the alignment. Particular attention was given to the Khongsang-Awangkhul section and its yards in preparation for the Commission of Railway Safety (CRS) inspection planned for October this year.
Bansal also inspected Tunnel Nos. 28 and 12 and reviewed tunnelling work across the project. Officials were directed to closely monitor construction activities, address issues without delay and maintain safety and construction quality while keeping the project on schedule.
The 110.625-km railway line is being built through difficult and mountainous terrain and will provide direct rail connectivity between Imphal and the national railway network. The project has 54 tunnels with a cumulative length of approximately 66.47 km. It also comprises 15 major and 116 minor bridges. Among these is bridge number 164 at Noney, which has a pier height of 141 metres.
The project will have 11 railway stations along the route. Construction has been taken up in phases, with the 11.8-km Jiribam-Vangaichungpao section commissioned in February 2017 and the Vangaichungpao-Khongsang section, covering about 43.56 km, commissioned in September 2022. Work on the remaining sections is continuing towards completion.
According to NFR's latest project details, the project has an anticipated cost of about INR 21,885.88 crore, while expenditure up to March 2025 stood at about INR 15,247.49 crore. The railway authority's project document also puts overall financial progress at 72.62%. The latest government infrastructure monitoring data had similarly recorded the project's financial progress at around 72%.
The completion schedule for the remaining sections has been revised over the years. NFR's latest project document lists commissioning targets of March 2027 for the Khongsang-Awangkhul and Awangkhul-Noney stages and June 2029 for the Noney-Imphal section.
The railway line is expected to improve direct rail access to Manipur's capital and strengthen connectivity between the state and the wider railway network. The extensive tunnelling and bridge works remain central to completing the remaining sections, particularly through the difficult terrain along the route.
Source PTI
Advertisement
Facebook
Whatsapp
