Northeast Frontier Railway Continues Construction Works on Dimapur–Kohima Rail Project

The Northeast Frontier Railway is making steady progress on the strategically important Dimapur (Dhansiri) Kohima (Zubza) New Railway Line Project, which will connect Nagaland capital city, Kohima, with the national railway network for the first time. The project is a major step towards strengthening rail connectivity in the North-Eastern region.

The project spans a total length of 78.42 kilometres, covering Karbi Anglong district of Assam and Chumukedima and Kohima districts of Nagaland. It includes eight stations Dhansiri, Dhansiripar, Shokhuvi, Molvom, Pherima, Piphema, Menguzuma and Zubza, of which Dhansiri, Shokhuvi and Molvom have already been completed. The alignment involves complex engineering works, including 20 tunnels with a total length of 31,169 metres and 27 major bridges along with 149 minor bridges, with substantial portions of these structures already completed.

Two sections of the project have been commissioned in phases the Dhansiri Shokhuvi section (16.5 km) in October 2021 and the Shokhuvi Molvom section (14.64 km) in March 2025. At present, regular train services are operating from Shokhuvi, connecting it with Guwahati in Assam and Naharlagun in Arunachal Pradesh, providing smoother, safer and more reliable travel for passengers. With the commissioning of Molvom station, it has become the third major railway station in Nagaland, and it also commenced freight operations in September 2025.

The new rail link is expected to significantly improve access to education, healthcare, employment and markets, while reducing dependence on road transport by offering a comfortable, affordable and time-efficient travel alternative. Work on the remaining sections of the project is currently in progress, and the Northeast Frontier Railway has targeted completion of the entire Dimapur Kohima (Zubza) railway line by 2029, which will mark a historic milestone in enhancing connectivity and overall development of the region.