Trains will soon be seen running in Sikkim.
Guwahati: Taking a major step towards increasing the railway connectivity in Sikkim, the Railway Ministry has approved the final place survey for the new railway line from Meli to Dentum via Jorethang, Legship. The survey conducted by the Northst Frontier Railway will be done at a cost of Rs 2.25 crore. This new rail line will connect the southern and western areas of Sikkim to the rail network. This proposed railway line, about 75 km long, will be connected to the Sevok-Rangpo railway line, which is expected to start by 2027.
The junction of this new railway line will be Meli
Explain that the Meli, called the main entrance to the southern and western parts of Sikkim, will be the junction of this new line. This will directly connect the region to the national transport system. This survey will give detailed information about the last route, engineering design and cost of the railway line. The project will accelerate economic growth in Gyalashing and surrounding areas. This will promote tourism, increase business and create new employment opportunities. Tenders related to the survey will be released soon.
There was no railway network in Sikkim yet
This new railway line will play an important role in connecting the remote areas of Sikkim, such as Dentum near the Indo-Nepal border, to the rest of the country. Explain that no other railway line is currently operational in Sikkim, as it has been the only state in India where there was no rail network till now. The Sevok-Rangpo Rail Line Project is the first major initiative to connect Sikkim to the rail network, whose work is going on fast.
Project is to be completed in 3 stages
In Sikkim Railway This project is to be in 3 stages:
Sevok-Rangpo Rail Line: This 44.96 km long railway line will connect Rangpo of Sikkim to Sevok in West Bengal. It will have 14 tunnels, 22 bridges and five stations (Sevok, Riang, Teesta Bazaar, Meli, Rangpo). Teesta Bazaar will be India’s first underground railway station. The project is expected to be completed by August 2025.
Rangpo-Gangtok Rail Line: This is the second phase, in which the railway line will be expanded from Rangpo to Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim. Survey and Detailed Project Report (DPR) is being prepared for this phase.
Gangtok-Nathu La Rail Line: In the third phase, the railway line will be taken from Gangtok to Nathu La Pass, a strategic place near the Indo-China border. The plan of this phase is also at the survey level.
Rail lines will be a boon for Sikkim
The project will connect the southern and western regions of Sikkim and begins after 2027 after the ongoing Sevok-Rangpo line. In addition, no other railway line in Sikkim is operational or under construction. The mountainous regions and seismic activities of Sikkim make railway construction challenging, but these projects will promote the state’s connectivity, tourism, trade and defense needs. (Language)