In a major milestone for Manipur, the state has received its first consignment of cement via a goods train at Khongsang Station.

This initiative will greatly reduce the cost of transportation, making construction materials more affordable and accessible. It paves the way for accelerated infrastructure development, benefiting every citizen of the state.

Expressing his elation, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh posted a brief video on X (formerly Twitter), showcasing the arrival of the cement-laden freight train.

The inauguration of Khongsang Station dates back to 2022 as part of the Jiribam-Imphal new line project, albeit its operationalisation was delayed due to the suspension of the line following ethnic unrest on 3 May 2023.

It was in July 2023 that the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) opened the Khongsang Station for loading and unloading purposes to facilitate supply of essential goods to the violence-hit state.

The first goods train, loaded with over 700 metric tonnes of essential supplies, was dispatched from Guwahati and ceremoniously welcomed by N Biren Singh at Khongsang Railway Station in Noney district on 24 July last year.

The 111-km-long Jiribam-Imphal rail link starts from existing Jiribam station of North East Frontier 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, this rail link aims to trim passenger travel time between the two destinations to under two and a half hours, a significant reduction from the current 10-hour, 220 km road journey.

The Jiribam-Imphal rail project, included in the 2003-04 budget, commenced in 2008 and was later designated a 'National Project' due to its strategic importance. With construction launched in 2013, the project has achieved 77 per cent physical progress and is slated for completion by March 2025.

This rail link assumes critical importance, given that nearly 70 per cent of Manipur's populace resides in Imphal. Negotiating challenging terrain, this rail artery is poised to emerge as a vital lifeline for Imphal, diminishing its current reliance on road networks for essential supplies.