General Manager (Construction) Ashish Bansal conducted an inspection of the Jiribam?Khongsang, Khongsang?Awangkhul and Awangkhul?Imphal sections and reviewed the status of key construction activities along the alignment. The inspection included assessment of critical infrastructure works and logistical preparedness ahead of a Commission of Railway Safety inspection scheduled for October. The review sought to identify bottlenecks and prioritise remedial actions to maintain momentum on works.
He inspected tunnel numbers 28 and 12 and reviewed tunnelling progress across the project, with particular attention to geological challenges and the use of advanced construction techniques. The General Manager emphasised maintaining the highest standards of safety, construction quality and timely execution while directing teams to monitor works closely and resolve issues promptly. Officials were instructed to coordinate closely with contractors and suppliers to ensure material and manpower readiness for upcoming schedules.
The alignment features 54 tunnels with a cumulative length of approximately 66.47 km and includes 15 major bridges and 116 minor bridges, among them bridge number 164 at Noney with a pier height of 141 metres that will be the tallest structure on the route. The tunnelling works across complex geological formations are being completed with stringent safety and quality measures. There are 11 railway stations planned along the line and phased commissioning has seen the Jiribam?Vangaichungpao section opened in February 2017 and the Vangaichungpao?Khongsang section opened in September 2022. Work on remaining sections continues in a phased manner towards final completion.