Live Update| PM Modi to Arrive in Violence-Hit Manipur Today, Set to Launch ₹8,500 Cr Projects

The Opposition called the Prime Minister’s visit “too little, too late.” Rahul Gandhi dismissed it as “no big deal,” while Congress leader Jairam Ramesh described the three-hour stop as a “farce, not a force for peace.” They argued that without a roadmap for reconciliation, rehabilitation, and justice, the visit failed to reassure displaced families or rebuild trust across divided communities.

The Manipur Congress criticised PM Modi’s visit to the state as “merely symbolic,” arguing that displaced families were expecting a concrete roadmap for justice, rehabilitation, and peace. Adding to the scepticism, CorCom, an umbrella body of insurgent Meitei outfits, announced a boycott of the Prime Minister’s public meeting in Churachandpur, reflecting deep distrust in the Centre’s approach.

Railway Minister Vaishnaw highlighted the engineering breakthroughs behind the Bairabi-Sairang railway line, built in difficult Himalayan geology. Special tunnelling methods were used to overcome challenges of loose sand. The project includes 45 tunnels spanning 51 km and 45 bridges, one taller than Delhi’s Qutub Minar. Freight operations will begin immediately, and passenger services will follow from Sunday, marking a milestone in Mizoram’s connectivity.

PM Narendra Modi Manipur Visit Live: What do we know about the new Manipur trains?

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that freight operations on the newly inaugurated Bairabi-Sairang line will begin immediately, with three passenger services starting Sunday. These include the Rajdhani Express connecting Sairang to Delhi, the Kolkata Tri-Weekly Express, and the Mizoram Express running daily to Guwahati. The ₹8,070-crore project is expected to enhance connectivity and ensure the steady supply of essentials. PM Modi is also set to lay foundation stones for key road projects in Aizawl and nearby areas.

The Prime Minister reached Aizawl earlier in the day to launch a series of infrastructure projects.

Prime Minister Modi laid the foundation stone and inaugurated multiple development projects worth over ₹9,000 crore in Aizawl. Among them was the Bairabi-Sairang New Rail line, worth over ₹8,070 crore, which connects Mizoram’s capital to the Indian Railways network for the first time.

Virtually addressing the people of Mizoram from Lengpui Airport, PM Modi expressed regret that bad weather prevented him from attending the Aizawl programme in person. “I am sorry that I am not able to join you physically, but I can feel your love and affection even from this medium,” he said.

The Prime Minister praised Mizoram’s contribution to the freedom movement and nation building. “Sacrifice and service, courage and compassion, these values are at the centre of Mizo society. Today, Mizoram is playing an important role in India’s development journey. This is a historic day for the nation, particularly for the people of Mizoram,” he said.

Prime Minister Modi recalled that a few years ago, he had laid the foundation stone for the Aizawl railway line. “Today, we proudly dedicate it to the people of the nation. Overcoming many challenges, including difficult terrain, this Bairabi-Sairang railway line has become a reality. The skills of our engineers and the spirit of our workers made this possible. From today, Aizawl will be on India’s railway map. For the first time, Sairang in Mizoram will be connected directly with Delhi by the Rajdhani Express,” he said.