North Eastern Railway Connectivity Project is an multi phased railway connectivity project in Northeast India which comprises states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim. These states come under Northeast Frontier Railway Zone of Indian Railways. This Railway project is considered as strategically important for India because it connects all the border states in this region and also close to ASEAN countries.
The Government of India has planned and projected to connect all 8 capitals of North Eastern states by 2030 As of September 2025, Four state capitals, Agartala in Tripura, Guwahati in Assam, Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh and Aizawl in Mizoram are linked with railways; the rail projects to connect remaining 4 state capitals of Sikkim, Nagaland, Manipur and Meghalaya are underway.
Background The Northeast region is a strategically important area to counter China. These state are connected to India through the very narrow area of Siliguri Corridor. After China's claims over the Doklam area of Bhutan and India, it has become important for India to boost connectivity in this region.
The project PM Gati Shakti aims to boost connectivity across the country and to connect all the capitals of Indian states. Especially this region is considered as Gateway to Southeast Asia. Thus strategic railway lines is important for this region. The region currently has 6,829 km of rail network, mostly in the state of Assam.
The railway will also be used to develop tourism in this region. In 2023, various deluxe trains begans operations connecting major locations such as Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati (Assam), Kaziranga National Park in Assam, Unakoti in Tripura, Cherrapunji in Meghalaya, and Dimapur in Nagaland.
List of Northeast India railway lines
By states
See map of under-construction rail lines in Northeast India.
Railway in Arunachal Pradesh
Railway in Assam
Railway in Manipur
Railway in Meghalaya
Railway in Mizoram
Railway in Nagaland
Railway in Sikkim
Railway in Tripura
Under construction Project Location StatesLength (in Kilometre) NotesMurkongselek–Pasighat lineFromMurkongselek(AS) To Pasighat(AR)Assam and Arunachal Pradesh26.15 Likely completion by December 2026 for the remaining 10.55 km Sille-Pasighat section, Murkongselek-Sille Section has been commissioned on 13 Feb 2026.Murkongselek-Pasighat rail line, indiainvestmentgrid.gov.in, accessed 15 April 2026.Jiribam–Imphal lineFrom Jiribam, Jiribam district To Imphal, Imphal districtManipur110.63 Likely completion by December 2026.Tetelia-Byrnihat lineFrom Tetelia(Guwahati), Kamrup district To Byrnihat, Ri-Bhoi districtAssam and Meghalaya 22 Likely completion by December 2026.Sivok–Rangpo lineFrom Sivok, Darjeeling district(WB)To Rangpo, Pakyong district(SK)West Bengal and Sikkim44.96 Likely completion by December 2027.Dhansiri–Zubza lineFrom Dhansiri(Dimapur), Dimapur district To Zubza,Kohima districtNagaland 82.5 Likely completion by December 2028.
Proposed Project Location StatesLength (in kilometre)Note ReferencesBhalukpong–Tenga–Tawang lineFrom Bhalukpong, West Kameng district To Tawang, Tawang districtArunachal Pradesh378North Lakhimpur–Bame–Silapathar lineFrom North Lakhimpur, Lakhimpur district(AS) Via Aalo and Bame, West Siang district(AR)
To Silapathar, Dhemaji district(AS)Assam and Arunachal Pradesh247.85Pasighat–Tezu–Rupai lineFrom Rupai, Tinsukia district(AS)
Via Tezu, Lohit district(AR)
To Pasighat, East Siang district(AR)Assam and Arunachal Pradesh227Imphal–Moreh lineFrom Imphal, Imphal district To Moreh, Tengnoupal districtManipur111Byrnihat-Shillong lineFrom Byrnihat, Ri-Bhoi district To Shillong, East Khasi Hills districtMeghalaya108Sairiang-Hmawngbuchhuah lineFrom Sairang, Aizawl district To Hmawngbuchhuah, Lawngtlai districtMizoram223Rangpo-Gangtok lineFrom Rangpo, Pakyong district To Gangtok, Gangtok districtSikkim 44It will be the second phase of Sivok-Ranhpo line and which will be the last state capital to be connected via a railway line
Rail link to neighbouring countries
Trans–Asian railway
In Northeast India, the government is developing multiple railway projects to connect the region with the Trans-Asian Railway (TAR). A key project is the 118-km railway line from Imphal in Manipur to Moreh on the Myanmar border, aimed at improving access to the TAR. Additionally, a route from Tripura to Bangladesh is proposed to enhance the region's integration into the TAR network.
India–Bangladesh rail link
The Government of two countries signed MoU for railway project linking Akhaurah, Bangladesh and Agartala of Tripura, India. The project was expected to be completed in mid-2023. NFR also conducted surveys for Belonia-Chittagong rail link.
India-Bhutan rail link
See rail transport in Bhutan.
India-Myanmar rail link
See India-Myanmar rail links.
India-Nepal rail link
See India-Nepal rail links.
See also
Northeast India Northeast Connectivity projects BCIM Economic Corridor List of bridges on Brahmaputra River
India-China Geostrategic railways under-construction in India India-China Border Roads China–India railway
Others List of megaprojects in India Asian Highway Network
References
External links
Map of planned rail lines in Northeast India.
Detailed overview of all railway projects with individual map in Northeast India: May 2025 update, for latest update click here then click "Project Details"→"Current"