Over the past few years, Indian Railways has been working strong and steady to connect the North-East with the rest of India, thereby laying the foundation for greater progress in the region. The 111 km-long Jiribam-Tupul-Imphal railway line is one of the many initiatives being undertaken by the them in the region. Being constructed since 2008, it will have the India’s longest tunnel, along with the world’s tallest girder rail bridge.

The line will comprise of 37 tunnels in all. The longest of these tunnels will be 11.55 km long, making it India’s longest tunnel. In addition to this, a bridge being constructed near Noney will become the tallest Girder Rail Bridge in the world. At 141 meters, the bridge over river Iring will be as high as two Qutub Minars stacked on top of each other.

According to Imphal Free Press, the upcoming railway line will have nine stations, including three major stations – Khongsang, Noney, and Imphal. Other stations being built on the track include Dholakhal, Kaimai Road, Haipo Jadonang (Kambiron), Thingou, Tupul and Haochang Road. The total cost of the project is said to be Rs 5,996 crore.

“We are proud of our cultural heritage and therefore the proposed Imphal station had been designed incorporating the architectural elements of Kangla Fort Gate and Shri Govindji Temple -two historical monuments of Manipur,” Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said while laying the foundation stone of Imphal railway station, reports NDTV.

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