Maligaon, August 26 (MExN): Sikkim, the only NE state without rail connectivity, could be added to India’s rail map by 2022.
According to a press release from Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) CPRO Subhanan Chanda, works on the railway line is already in progress in various sections.
This is despite the progress being affected due to difficult terrain and prolonged rainy season, and the additional COVID-19 related restrictions.
The Sivok- Rongpo project for providing rail connectivity was sanctioned for Sikkim in the year 2008-09, but the work could not make much headway due to various environment related issues as the proposed railway line will pass through the Mahananda wildlife sanctuary, the release added.
However, the CPRO said that work is underway and the likely date of completion of the project is December, 2022.
Once completed, it is expected to boost connectivity of the land locked state which shares its border with three neighboring countries- China, Nepal and Bhutan.
The total length of the complete project is 44.96 kms of which 41.55 kms falls in West Bengal and 3.41 kms falls in Sikkim.
The project cost will be around Rs. 8,900 Cr of which about Rs 335.52 Cr have already been utilized till last month. Budget allotment for 2020-21 is 607Cr, he added.
IRCON (Indian Railway Construction Company) International Ltd on behalf of NFR is carrying out the construction work of the project. There will be 14 tunnels, 5 stations (Sivoke, Riyang, Teesta Bazar, Melli and Rangpo) and 13 bridges in the section.
The entire section is being constructed by using latest technology so that train can run at a speed of 100 kmph. There will be 38555 mts of tunneling work involved in the entire projects.
