Indian Railways (IR) is expediting work on the Jiribam–Imphal railway line, a flagship project under the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), aimed at providing Manipur’s capital Imphal with train connectivity for the first time.

The 110.625 km-long project, with an investment of Rs 22,000 crore, was highlighted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Manipur visit on September 13, where he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthen regional connectivity. So far, 55.36 km of the line up to Khongsang has been commissioned (September 2022), while the Khongsang–Noney (18.25 km) and Noney–Imphal (37.02 km) stretches remain under construction.

The project entails 45 tunnels and engineering marvels, including the world’s tallest pier bridge across the Ijei river valley with a pier height of 141 mtrs. Once operational, the line will integrate Imphal into the national rail network, boost exports of horticulture and agricultural products, enhance tourism, and energize Manipur’s economy.