Imphal: Imphal, is expected to come onto the Indian Railways network by December 2023 as 90 percent work of Jirbam Imphal new railway line have been completed.

The city will become the fourth capital city in the northeastern region to have a rail link.

Guwahati, Agartala and Naharlagun are already on the railway network.

The Chief Public Relations Officer Sabyasachi De informed that the Jirbam Imphal railway of 14, 322 crores is to be completed by the end of this year.

He said that, multiple tunnels and bridges in tough terrain will be constructed. Out of 52 tunnels, tunnel no 12, passing through the most complex geological condition having fragile soil type condition, is the longest tunnel of this project with total length of 10.275 km including a 529 metre RCC Ramp with a parallel safety tunnel of length 8.30 km.

The vertical shaft construction technology has been adopted for the first time, a technology normally used in metro rail projects.

CPRO further mentions that the Indian Railways is significantly contributing towards transformation of the northeastern states by executing several new railway projects.

De said that the tallest pier railway bridge of the world with a height of 141 metres is also being constructed in this project and nearing completion.

The present road journey of 10 hours to reach Imphal from Jiribam will be reduced to 2.5 hours after the completion of the project.

The railway project after completion would facilitate the receiving of essential commodities faster by the state and help the state local producers to export their products outside the state quicker.

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