Jiribam-Imphal (110.625 km) New Railway Line Project
Jiribam-Imphal (110.625 km) New Railway Line Project
Jiribam- Imphal Railway Line
Jiribam-Imphal (110.625 km) new line project had been included in Budget in 2003-04. The latest anticipated cost of the project is Rs. 12,264 crore. An expenditure of Rs. 10,089 crore has been incurred upto March, 2025 and an outlay of Rs. 800 crore has been provided for financial year 2025-21.
12km length from Jiribam to Vangaichungpao has been completed and commissioned in March, 2025 and work has been taken up in the available land.
Mining of 46 nos. tunnels out of total 47 tunnels have been completed. Mining of 47.40 km tunnel has been done during 2025-19, which is 110% more than tunnel mining done during 2009-14 (22.52 km).
5 out of 11 major bridges, 108 out of 128 minor bridges, 3 out of 5 Road Over Bridges (ROBs) and 2 out of 12 Road Under Bridges (RUBs) have been completed.
Completion of any Railway project depends on various factors like quick land acquisition by State Government, forest clearance by officials of forest department, shifting of infringing utilities, statutory clearances from various authorities, geological and topographical conditions of area, law and order situation in the area of project site, number of working months in a year for particular project site due to climatic conditions etc. and all these factors differ from project to project and affect the completion time of the project.
Jiribam-Imphal new line project is a challenging project in the hilly terrain of young Himalayas having 47 nos. tunnels, 156 nos. bridges including 141 metre high pier bridge etc. In addition, COVID-19 pandemic has also adversely affected the progress of the work at site. As such, firm completion time of the project cannot be ascertained at this stage.
This information was given by the Minister of Railways and Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
Here’s a detailed and up-to-date overview of the Jiribam–Imphal New Railway Line Project, spanning approximately 110–111 km—a major rail project connecting Manipur to the Indian Railways’ broad-gauge network:
Contents
🚆 Project Overview
- Route: From Jiribam (Assam) to Imphal (Manipur) — covering around 110.6 km
- Coverage: Operates under Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), including 8 new stations such as Khongsang, Noney, Tupul, and Rani Gaidinliu
- Project cost: Originally ₹13,809 crore (2008 estimates), revised to ₹14,322 crore; as of 2025 new estimate ~₹19,600+ crore
🏗 Engineering & Structural Highlights
- Tunnels: Total ~61.32 km across 52 tunnels; as of April 2025, ~59.11 km complete (~93% physical progress)
- Tunnel #12 / Imphal West: 11.55 km long; India’s longest rail tunnel, including a parallel safety tube featuring cross passages every 500 m, per IMD standards
- Bridges: 11 major bridges and 137 minor bridges planned; groundwork done for 5 major, 101 minor bridges; includes world’s tallest railway pier bridge at 141 m height over a gorge near Noney
🛤 Progress Update – Mid‑2025
- Jiribam → Khongsang section (55.36 km) commissioned in March 2025 and operational for trains via Khongsang station
- Khongsang → Noney (18.25 km) and Noney → Imphal (37.02 km) are under active construction; estimated overall completion by December 2026 (as per revised timelines)
- Progress stands at ~93% completion as of early 2025; the project continues with a strong rollout pace despite challenging weather in the region
🚉 Stations on the Route (Jiribam → Imphal)
- Jiribam (existing) → Dholakhal → Kamranga → Sribar → Ranigaon → Vangaichungpao → Khongsang → Rani Gaidinliu → Haipou Jadonang Kambiron → Noney → Tupul → Thingu → Phayeng → Imphal
📋 Quick Summary Table
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Length | ~110–111 km |
| Progress (Apr 2023) | ~93% physical completed |
| Tunnels / Bridges | ~61 km tunnels; 11 major + 137 minor bridges |
| Major Station Milestone | Jiribam → Khongsang (operational) |
| Current Status (May 2025) | Remaining ~55 km under construction |
| Expected Completion | December 2026 (revised) |
| Estimated Cost | ₹14,322 cr (2023); ₹19,600+ cr (2025) |
🌟 Strategic & Social Impact
- Imphal becomes the 4th northeastern capital city linked by rail (after Guwahati, Agartala, Itanagar)
- Travel time Jiribam → Imphal will fall from ~10 hours by road to ~2.5 hours by train Expected to catalyze tourism, trade, and social connectivity; improve access for goods and boost local economy
- Supports strategic movement along the Silkway/Trans‑Asian Railway corridors toward Moreh (Myanmar) extension plans underway
💬 Local Voices
“The 110.625 km long Jiribam–Imphal New Rail Line… began in 2006… has 52 tunnels, 156 bridges including a 141 m pier bridge and a 12 km tunnel.” — Reddit discussion from 2025
“Manipur was one of the least connected states… now getting attention.” — Community insight on project significance
Would you like details about:
- Specific station blueprints (e.g., the new Imphal station),
- Project technicalities like tunnel ventilation or bridge span,
- Future extensions (e.g., Imphal–Moreh, Moreh–Myanmar), or
- Expected train services or schedules once the line is operational?
Happy to provide more!