Jiribam-Imphal Project: World's Tallest Pier Rail Bridge In Manipur Nears Completion

Noney Bridge, the world’s tallest railway pier bridge in Manipur, part of the Jiribam-Imphal project, is nearing completion as 80 per cent of work is completed.

The tall piers needed for the project have been specially designed with 'slip-form technique' to ensure efficient and continual construction.

The Project

The 111-km-long Jiribam-Imphal rail link starts from existing Jiribam station of North East Frontier (NEF) Railway in Manipur and will connect the state's capital Imphal with the country’s broad gauge network.

Being built by the North East Frontier Railway, the rail line will transport passengers between the two places in under two and a half hours, slashing the current 10 hour, 220 km journey by road.

The construction work started in 2013 and has already achieved physical progress of 93.30 per cent and is set to be completed by March 2025.

According to the Indian Railways, the connectivity to Imphal is part of the government’s move to connect all the capitals of North Eastern states by rail with the rest of the country.

This rail link is crucial as nearly 70 per cent of Manipur's population lives in Imphal. The line passing through difficult terrain will also become a new lifeline for Imphal, which is now primarily dependent on the road network for getting essential supplies.