Multiple factors affecting Imphal rail project: Minister
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 12 2025: Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has failed to provide a timeline for completion of the Jiribam-Imphal railway project stating that the government is putting efforts to expedite the project, but multiple challenges continue to delay its progress.

Responding to a question raised by Lok Sabha MP Dr Angomcha Bimol Akoijam on Wednesday, the minister cited geological constraints, law and order issues, and infrastructure bottlenecks as key hurdles affecting the long-awaited rail connectivity to Imphal.

The Jiribam-Imphal new railway line project, spanning 111 km, was undertaken to integrate Imphal with the Indian Railways network.

Multiple factors affecting Imphal rail project: Minister

According to the minister, the latest estimated cost of the project stands at Rs 22,274 crore, with Rs 14,423 crore already spent as of March 31, 2024 .

For the financial year 2024-25, an outlay of Rs 1,200 crore has been allocated.

The minister informed that 55.36 km of the railway line, from Jiribam to Khongsang, has already been commissioned, while work is underway for the remaining stretch.

Providing details on the project's history, the minister said that the construction was initiated several years ago with a set target date for completion.

However, the project has faced multiple delays due to various challenges.

One of the major hurdles has been the region's difficult geological conditions, including highly weathered rock formations and loose soil, which have slowed down tunnel construction.

Additional factors such as soil-related issues, law and order problems, frequent closures of NH-37 that have disrupted the transportation of construction materials, and a significant landslide in the Tupul area in June 2022 have further affected progress.

On the current timeline for the project's completion, the minister stated that several factors influence the pace of railway projects, including timely land acquisition by the state government, forest clearances, the shifting of utilities, and approvals from various authorities.

Furthermore, the area's geographical and topographical conditions, along with law and order situations, also play a role in determining the completion schedule.

The minister assured that despite these challenges, efforts are being made to expedite the project.

Regarding train services in Manipur, the minister explained that Indian Railways operates two passenger train services catering to the state.

These include the Silchar-Vangai-chungpao passenger train, which runs daily, and the Agartala-Khongsang Jan Shatabdi Express, which operates three times a week.

However, in light of concerns raised by the Manipur government, these services have been temporarily suspended since May 4, 2023.The minister also provided details of freight operations at railway terminals in the state.

In the financial year 2024-25, up until February 2025, Jiribam station handled 15.5 rakes of freight, while Khongsang station handled 16 rakes.