Aizawl, Jan 9: More than 22,000 Inner Line Permits (ILPs) have been issued to visitors at Mizoram’s Sairang railway station since the inauguration of the Bairabi-Sairang rail line in September 2025, police said.

The ILP, required under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR) of 1873, is mandatory for Indian citizens entering protected areas like Mizoram. According to a police officer at the station, 20,914 permits were issued to tourists, traders, and migrant workers from September 13 to December 31, 2025. Another 1,517 permits were issued between January 1 and 8, bringing the total to 22,431.

“On average, we issue 100–200 ILPs per train arrival, with two trains operating daily,” the officer said. Tourists accounted for the majority in October and November, while migrant workers and traders increased in December. Most visitors came from Assam, Delhi, West Bengal, and southern states.

Police have also intercepted violators attempting to bypass ILP checks and repatriated beggars to their home villages. The staff faces manpower shortages, balancing ILP verification, law and order duties, and unofficial Government Railway Police (GRP) responsibilities like traffic control, despite GRP not being formally notified. With only 20 officers posted, they often work until 2 a.m. due to delays and resume duty at 7 a.m. without extra allowances.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 51.38-km Bairabi-Sairang rail line on September 13, 2025, flagging off Mizoram’s first Rajdhani Express to Delhi, along with trains to Kolkata and Guwahati.