Nagaland’s capital is poised to join India’s national rail network as the 78.42-km Dimapur–Kohima railway project advances, with around 40 per cent of construction completed, the North East Frontier Railway (NFR) announced. Declared a project of national importance, the line aims to provide seamless connectivity between Kohima and major cities, including the national capital, by December 2029.
The rail line begins at Dhansiri station on the Lumding–Tinsukia main line near Dimapur and extends to Zubza, roughly 20 km from Kohima city. The corridor includes eight stations—Dhansiri, Dhansiripar, Shokhuvi, Molvom, Pherima, Piphema, Menguzuma, and Zubza—with four already completed. The project also involves 20 tunnels and 180 bridges, of which seven tunnels and over 150 bridges have been constructed.
Passenger services commenced from Shokhuvi station in 2022, making it only the second operational station in Nagaland over a century after Dimapur’s station. In September 2025, cargo operations began at Molvom station, boosting trade and providing safer, cost-effective transport for goods within and beyond the state.
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The Dhansiri–Shokhuvi (16.5 km) section was commissioned in October 2021, followed by Shokhuvi–Molvom (14.64 km) in March 2025. The Molvom–Pherima section is scheduled for commissioning in March 2027, while the final Pherima–Zubza stretch is targeted for December 2029. Once operational, Molvom will become Nagaland’s third major railway station, complementing freight and passenger operations.
The project is expected to reduce the hill state’s dependence on road transport, enhance trade, and improve access to education, healthcare, and employment. Regular train services currently link Shokhuvi to Guwahati in Assam and Naharlagun in Arunachal Pradesh, expanding regional connectivity.
Officials emphasized that the Dimapur–Kohima rail line will not only transform passenger travel but also strengthen Nagaland’s transport and logistics ecosystem, fostering socio-economic growth in the state and its neighboring northeastern regions.
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