The Mizo Students’ Union (MSU) has urged the Mizoram government to tighten enforcement of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in light of the newly inaugurated railway connection linking Aizawl with Delhi, Guwahati, and Kolkata. MSU leaders, led by president B. Lalkhawngaiha, met Home Minister K. Sapdanga on Thursday and submitted a memorandum calling for stricter checks to prevent illegal entry into the state. The union recommended setting up ILP counters not only at Sihhmui and Sairang stations, but also along the Sihhmui–Phunchawng stretch and at Serkhan in Kolasib district.
The organization further suggested revising ILP guidelines to introduce a separate category for domestic tourists, ensuring smoother travel while safeguarding local interests. Home Minister Sapdanga assured MSU that border checkpoints would be reinforced and said discussions on a dedicated tourist ILP would be held with Tourism Minister Lalnghinglova Hmar. A senior police officer confirmed that enforcement measures are under review, with additional security being deployed along inter-state borders and the newly operational Bairabi–Sairang rail corridor.
The ₹8,070 crore, 51.38 km Bairabi–Sairang railway line, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 13, marks a historic milestone for Mizoram. The rail link, one of the most challenging projects in Indian Railways’ history, now provides the state with its first Rajdhani service to Delhi, enhancing connectivity and boosting economic and cultural ties with the rest of the country.
