Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate Mizoram’s first Rajdhani Express on September 13, marking a historic milestone in the state’s integration with India’s national railway network. The new service will connect Sairang station near Aizawl to Delhi’s Anand Vihar Terminal, offering direct weekly rail connectivity between the northeastern state and the national capital for the first time.
The inaugural run of the 20-coach Rajdhani Express will begin at 10:00 AM from Sairang and is scheduled to arrive at Anand Vihar on Monday, September 15, at 7:30 AM. Regular weekly services will commence from September 19, with train number 20597 departing Sairang every Friday at 4:30 PM and reaching Delhi on Sunday at 10:50 AM. The return journey (train number 20598) will leave Anand Vihar on Sunday evening at 7:50 PM and arrive in Sairang on Tuesday at 3:15 PM.
Covering a distance of 2,510 kilometers in approximately 43 hours and 25 minutes, the train will operate at an average speed of 57.81 km/h. It will halt at 21 stations en route, including key junctions such as Guwahati, New Cooch Behar, New Jalpaiguri, Malda Town, Bhagalpur, Patna, Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction, and Kanpur.
Due to the lack of electrification on the newly constructed Bairabi–Sairang stretch, a diesel locomotive will be used from Bairabi to Guwahati, after which an electric engine will take over for the remainder of the journey to Delhi.
Alongside the Rajdhani Express, PM Modi will also inaugurate two additional services: a daily express train between Sairang and Guwahati, and a tri-weekly express connecting Sairang to Kolkata. These launches coincide with the formal commissioning of the Bairabi–Sairang railway line, a 51.38 km project that has overcome challenging terrain and engineering hurdles to bring Aizawl onto India’s railway map.
The inauguration is expected to significantly boost connectivity, trade, and tourism in Mizoram and the broader Northeast region. The Prime Minister’s visit will also include the launch of new educational institutions and development projects, underscoring the government’s commitment to regional integration and infrastructure development.
