Railway launches ₹13,809-cr Jiribam-Imphal rail line

The North-East region's Jiribam-Imphal railway line project of the Indian Railways has been fast tracked. The ₹13,809 crore rail line, declared a national project, was taken up in the year 2008 but remained in limbo for various reasons. The last Open Web Girder of Bridge Number 44, the first-ever over 100-m tall Pier Bridge of the new line was launched recently. The project is going to be a major milestone in connecting the state of Manipur to rest of India. Earlier, the railway line project between Jiribam and Imphal, connecting the capital city of Imphal with the broad-gauge network was to be completed by the end of 2020. Bridge Number 164 is said to be the tallest girder railway bridge of the rail network with its pier measuring 141 m. According to Chief Engineer Sai Baba Ankala, the 111-km long Jiribam-Imphal railway line passes through steep rolling hills of the Patkai region, and traverses through deep gorges and over rivers flowing at low ground levels.