Kohima is set to join India’s national rail network as the 78.42-km Dimapur–Kohima railway line progresses steadily, with about 40 per cent of the project completed, the North East Frontier Railway (NFR) said on Friday.
The rail link, declared a project of national importance, is aimed at providing direct connectivity between Nagaland’s capital and the rest of the country, including the national capital, with completion targeted for December 2029.
“The new line starts from Dhansiri, an existing station on the Lumding-Tinsukia main line near Dimapur in Nagaland, and extends up to Zubza, located on outskirts of Kohima, around 20 km from the city,” a senior railway official said.
“Declared a project of national importance, the new rail link will provide direct connectivity between Kohima and the national capital. The project is targeted to be completed by December 2029,” he added.
The Dimapur-Kohima line includes eight stations, Dhansiri, Dhansiripar, Shokhuvi, Molvom, Pherima, Piphema, Menguzuma and Zubza, of which four have been completed. These are Dhansiri, Dhansiripar, Shokhuvi and Molvom.
The project involves 20 tunnels with a total length of 31,169 metres, seven of which have been completed so far. In addition, 30 major and 150 minor bridges are planned, with 12 major and 141 minor bridges already constructed.
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The Dhansiri-Shokhuvi section, measuring 16.5 km, was commissioned in October 2021, followed by the Shokhuvi–Molvom stretch of 14.64 km in March 2025. The Molvom-Pherima section is scheduled for commissioning in March 2027, while the final Pherima–Zubza stretch is expected to be completed by December 2029.
A senior railway official said passenger train services began from Shokhuvi in 2022, making it only the second railway station in Nagaland, more than a century after Dimapur station was commissioned.
“In September 2025, cargo operations started for the first time at Molvom railway station, marking a major milestone in development of trade and commerce in Nagaland,” the NFR official said.
NFR said the project will strengthen rail connectivity between Nagaland, neighbouring northeastern states and the rest of India. Regular train services currently connect Shokhuvi with Guwahati in Assam and Naharlagun in Arunachal Pradesh.
“With Molvom becoming the third major railway station in Nagaland after Dimapur, and Shokhuvi to handle freight traffic, safe and cost-effective transportation of goods to and from Nagaland has received a major boost,” it said.
The rail link is also expected to reduce dependence on road transport in the hill state, while improving access to education, healthcare, employment and markets.
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