Guwahati/Imphal, Sep 2 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit Mizoram and Manipur on September 13, in what is described as a significant political and developmental outreach to the Northeast.
The visit is likely to blend infrastructure inaugurations with a delicate political message, particularly in Manipur where ethnic unrest continues to simmer.
According to sources in Mizoram, Modi’s first stop will be Aizawl where he will inaugurate the newly completed Bairabi–Sairang railway line—a 51.38 km stretch linking the Mizoram capital with Assam’s Silchar.
The Rs 6,527-crore project, executed under the Centre’s Act East Policy, is expected to boost regional connectivity, trade, and movement of essential goods while integrating Mizoram more closely with the national railway grid.
Government employees, farmers and students from across the state are being mobilized to attend the ceremony.
Sources said that following the event in Aizawl, the Prime Minister is likely to travel to Manipur—his first visit to the state since the outbreak of ethnic violence in May 2023 between the Meitei and Kuki communities.
The conflict has left over 260 people dead, displaced more than 60,000, and carved deep social and political divides.
While Manipur authorities have yet to formally confirm the visit, top-level reviews of preparations are already underway.
Security has been placed on maximum alert. A directive issued by the Director General of Police has ordered all police and paramilitary personnel to remain on duty between September 7 and 14, with leave cancelled except in emergencies.
Officials indicated that Modi could also inaugurate the newly constructed Manipur State Secretariat along with other key projects during his stay.
For the BJP-led Centre, the visit is not just about development announcements but also about signalling the Prime Minister’s engagement with Manipur at a time when trust deficit, displacement and sporadic violence remain unresolved.
For Mizoram, the visit comes ahead of a politically crucial period. The state, which went to polls in late 2023, has often expressed anxieties about connectivity gaps, disaster resilience, and the economic fallout of regional instability, particularly the spillover effects of the Manipur violence and refugee influx from Myanmar.
The railway link is seen as a landmark achievement in addressing some of these long-standing concerns.
Reports from Imphal said the Manipur government had started preparing for the visit. Officials, however, say the visit is not yet confirmed. Preparations have already begun at Kangla, Imphal, and Churachandpur district headquarters. Chief Secretary PK Goel convened a meeting on August 30 to discuss the planned visit. However, the meeting only mentioned the visit of a VVIP, according to a state government official.
Security arrangements are being put in place at both places. Beautification of road medians have begun along with road repairs. Special arrangements have also been made at both the venues for internally displaced persons and sitting arrangements for about 15,000 people have been made at Kangla and about 9,000 at Churachandpur.
The government is planning to construct about ten welcome gates and preparations for proper maintenance of helipads have also started.
Meanwhile, the Army, Assam Rifles and Manipur Police have been asked to ensure adequate security, sources said.
UNI
