In preparation, the Manipur administration has instructed senior police officers that no leave will be granted between September 7 and 14, citing exigencies of duty.”
Navin Upadhyay
New Delhi, August 31, 2025: Prime Minister Narendra Modi may briefly visit Manipur on September 13, a day after inaugurating the Bairabi-Sairang railway line in Mizoram, sources said. While the visit to Manipur is not yet officially confirmed, officials indicate a high likelihood of a stopover in the state, which the Prime Minister has avoided since the ethnic clashes between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities on May 3, 2023. The conflict claimed 260 lives and displaced nearly 60,000 people.
In preparation, the Manipur administration under Governor A.K. Bhalla has instructed senior police officers that no leave will be granted between September 7 and 14, citing “exigencies of duty during this period.” The police have also been placed on high alert, sources said.
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Sources also indicated that the Home Ministry may extend the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with Kuki-Zo armed groups and urge the Kuki-Zo Council to endorse a “cessation of hostilities” agreement, while attempting to ensure “free movement” across the state in the run-up to the Prime Minister’s visit. However, the latter objective is unlikely to achieve significant progress given the prevailing atmosphere of bitter hostility and mistrust between the two communities, where crossing buffer zones is often perceived as putting one’s life at risk.
The BJP and the Prime Minister have faced criticism from opposition parties and civil society groups for their limited engagement with Manipur during its most tumultuous period. Incidentally, while the Centre has been apathetic to the plight of Manipur, in nearly a dozen cases of rape and murder during the clashes, no arrests have been made even after two years.
If the visit proceeds, PM Modi is expected to unveil a series of developmental projects in both the valley and hill districts, and assure the state of continued central support to restore Manipur’s stability and development trajectory.
Mizoram Railway Visit
The Prime Minister will inaugurate the 51.38-km Bairabi-Sairang railway line, which will connect Aizawl to the national railway network. Chief Minister Lalduhoma announced that the PM will arrive in Aizawl on September 12, spend the night, and inaugurate the new line the next day.
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The project, part of the Centre’s Act East policy, features 48 tunnels covering 12.8 km, 55 major bridges, and 87 minor bridges, including bridge number 196, which rises 104 metres—taller than the Qutub Minar. Sairang railway station will be upgraded to a world-class facility, and Rajdhani train services are planned to further improve connectivity with Assam’s Silchar town and the rest of the country, fully integrating Mizoram into India’s railway map.
The project is expected to enhance economic integration and accessibility for Mizoram, reflecting the Centre’s commitment to Northeast development.
