Aizawl, Sep 13 — Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the 51.38-km Bairabi-Sairang railway project, flagged off three new trains linking Aizawl with Delhi, Kolkata, and Guwahati, and launched development projects worth over ₹9,000 crore.
Calling the Northeast a “growth engine of India,” he said the region, once seen as a frontier, has now become a front runner in development during the past 11 years. He emphasised that through the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project, Mizoram and other Northeastern states will gain direct access to the Bay of Bengal, strengthening trade and tourism ties with Southeast Asia under India’s Act East Policy.
Modi said earlier governments focused on vote-bank politics, neglecting the Northeast, but his government prioritises peace and development. Connectivity through rail, road, air, and waterways has expanded significantly and will continue to grow. He also highlighted the Regional Connectivity Scheme (UDAN), announcing that helicopter services from Aizawl will soon connect remote parts of Mizoram.
The Prime Minister said Mizoram will benefit from the Khelo India policy, which aims to transform India into a global sports hub, noting that the state has produced many talented athletes. He also praised the region’s entrepreneurial spirit, pointing out that over 4,000 start-ups and several incubators are already operating in the Northeast.
At the Ashtalakshmi Festival and Rising Northeast Investor Summit in Delhi, he said investors showed strong interest in the region’s textiles, crafts, tourism, and agro-products. Mizoram’s bamboo, organic ginger, turmeric, and cash crops, he added, can drive prosperity.
Referring to GST reforms, Modi said reduced taxes on medicines and insurance have eased burdens on citizens. He also recalled ‘Operation Sindoor,’ highlighting India’s military strength and self-reliance in defence.
This was Modi’s second visit to Mizoram since 2014. From Aizawl, he departed for Manipur.
