NFR achieves breakthrough in Tunnel No 8 of Sivok–Rangpo railway project

Maligaon, March 15 (MExN): Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has achieved a major milestone in the Sivok–Rangpo Railway Project with the successful breakthrough of Tunnel No. 8 on March 12, marking significant progress in the strategically important rail connectivity project for the Northeast region.

The breakthrough was achieved jointly by NFR and IRCON International Ltd., officials said, describing the development as a crucial step towards completion of the new rail link that will connect Sikkim to the national railway network.

Tunnel No. 8 is one of the major tunnels of the project with a total length of 4.148 km and an additional adit measuring 1.010 km. The excavation and mining works were carried out under extremely challenging geological conditions, including highly weak, weathered and fractured rock strata.

Officials said the work also faced additional challenges due to the uncertainties of the hilly terrain and sensitivities associated with the nearby NH-10 corridor.

With the completion of mining in Tunnel No. 8, tunnel excavation has now been completed in 13 out of the total 14 tunnels planned under the Sivok–Rangpo Railway Project.

Significant progress has also been made in other major components of the project. Tunnel lining works covering a total length of 32.4 km have already been completed in 12 tunnels, while ballastless track laying has been completed over 21 km inside the tunnels.

These developments have brought the project closer to operational readiness, officials said.

The Sivok–Rangpo New Rail Link Project is one of the key infrastructure initiatives aimed at improving connectivity in the Northeast region. The project seeks to connect the state of Sikkim with the national railway network and forms part of Indian Railways’ broader Capital Connectivity initiative.

The total length of the railway project is 44.96 km, of which 41.55 km lies in West Bengal and 3.41 km in Sikkim.

About 38.623 km, or nearly 86 per cent of the route, runs through tunnels, while 2.24 km consists of bridges and 4.79 km comprises open cutting and station yards.

The project includes the construction of 14 tunnels, with the longest measuring about 5.30 km and the shortest around 538 metres. It also involves the construction of 13 major bridges and 10 minor bridges along the alignment.

The new railway line will have five stations—Sivok, Riyang, Melli and Rangpo—along with an underground halt station at Teesta Bazar, which will be among the unique infrastructure features of the project.

Once completed, the project is expected to significantly improve transportation to Sikkim, ensure uninterrupted supply of essential commodities and boost economic development in the region.
Construction activities across multiple fronts, including civil works, track installation and railway electrification, are progressing steadily.

NFR officials said efforts are ongoing to complete the remaining works and commission the Sivok–Rangpo Railway Project by December 2027, which is expected to greatly enhance rail connectivity to the state of Sikkim and improve regional mobility.