Inching towards connecting Sikkim to the rail network, the 45 km long Sivok-Rangpo project with 14 tunnels and 23 major and minor bridges is getting traction of late with construction of all five stations being complete.
Estimated to cost Rs 7,876 crore, the vital link passing through Darjeeling, Kalimpong and East Sikkim districts will benefit the border states immensely after its completion.
According to the project engineer on the site, with Rs 4,865 crore expenditure incurred till March-end this year, 54 per cent of the work being completed on the ground, the project is being expedited to meet the completion target of December 2024.
Connecting West Bengal’s Sivok with Sikkim’s Rangpo, the rail project once completed, would put Sikkim on the rail map for the first time, he said.
Promising an unimaginably breathtaking train journey, through the picturesque mountain terrains and forest reserves, the project is expected to stimulate tourism industry and socio-economic development in the region.
While work on all five stations on the 44.96 km long route is almost over, construction of 13 major bridges and 10 minor bridges are in full swing.
The rail line is also crucial for troop movement as the route connects to Sikkim which shares borders with China so it will be easier for the Indian soldiers to commute easily.
It will also make travelling faster and easier for the Indian Soldiers at the nearby Nathula border.
The route mostly shuts down in monsoons due to landslides, jams and many other reasons. This makes traveling very tough over this route.
However, the Sivok-Rangpo rail line is expected to be the ultimate solution for regular passengers and tourists in this area as one can reach Sikkim in just two hours from West Bengal.
Taking care of environmental concerns, the new railway line is also a green project as the line will pass through Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary, Kurseong forest division, Darjeeling forest division, Kalimpong forest division and the East Sikkim forest division.
Utmost care has been taken to ensure that the project does not disturb the environment and wildlife as the train will run through tunnels, the Railways maintains.
Expected to be a game changer in the northeast, the project is now the focus of the Railways.