Guwahati: The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) is continuing steady construction work on the strategically significant Dimapur (Dhansiri)–Kohima (Zubza) new railway line project, aimed at connecting Nagaland’s capital city with the national rail network for the first time. Spanning 78.42 km across Karbi Anglong district of Assam and Chumukedima and Kohima districts of Nagaland, the project is considered a key infrastructure initiative for improving connectivity in the North-East. The alignment includes eight stations—Dhansiri, Dhansiripar, Shokhuvi, Molvom, Pherima, Piphema, Menguzuma and Zubza. Of these, Dhansiri, Shokhuvi and Molvom have already been completed.
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Given the hilly terrain, the project involves complex engineering works, including the construction of 20 tunnels with a combined length of over 31 km, along with 27 major and 149 minor bridges. NFR officials said substantial progress has already been achieved on these structures. The project has been commissioned in phases, with the Dhansiri–Shokhuvi section (16.5 km) opened in October 2021, followed by the Shokhuvi–Molvom section (14.64 km) in March 2025. At present, regular train services operate from Shokhuvi, connecting it with Guwahati and Naharlagun. Molvom station, now the third major railway station in Nagaland, also began freight operations in September 2025.
Once completed, the rail link is expected to boost access to education, healthcare and markets while reducing reliance on road transport. NFR has set a target to complete the entire project by 2029, marking a historic step in the region’s development.
