Railway Line to Connect Bengal's Sivok with Sikkim's Rangpo by 2027: NFR
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Synopsis
The railway project connecting West Bengal's Sivok and Sikkim's Rangpo is projected for completion by December 2027, enhancing connectivity and boosting tourism and trade in the region.
Key Takeaways
- Completion Date: Expected by December 2027
- Length: 44.96 km
- Bridges and Tunnels: 13 major bridges and 14 tunnels
- Tourism Boost: Expected to enhance Sikkim's tourism
- Economic Impact: Will facilitate trade and commerce
Gangtok/Guwahati, Feb 18 (NationPress) A significant railway project linking West Bengal's Sivok with Sikkim's Rangpo is on track for completion by December 2027, as confirmed by a senior official from the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) on Tuesday.
NFR's Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Kapinjal Kishore Sharma stated that the 44.96 km long Sivok-Rangpo project, upon its completion, will connect the capital of Sikkim, Gangtok, to the rest of India through West Bengal.
Rangpo, situated in Pakyong district of Sikkim, is located 37 km from Gangtok, according to the CPRO, who also mentioned that the new railway line is expected to significantly enhance the tourism sector of the Himalayan state.
Sharma detailed that the Sivok-Rangpo railway project includes 14 tunnels, 13 major bridges, 9 minor bridges, and 5 stations.
The longest tunnel (T-10) measures 5.3 km while the longest bridge (Br-17) spans 425 metres.
A total of 38.65 km of the project alignment is routed through tunnels.
The CPRO noted that the NFR has reached a major milestone with the assistance of IRCON International Ltd in the ongoing Sivok-Rangpo Railway Project. This crucial infrastructure endeavor is set to improve connectivity between West Bengal and Sikkim, promoting economic development and regional integration, as detailed by the CPRO.
Recently, the project made significant progress with the successful deployment of two 69-meter-long Open Web girders for Bridge number 6. These girders, weighing a total of 810 metric tons (excluding the Launching Nose weight), were launched at a height of 40 metres using the advanced Launching Nose method, ensuring precision in constructing challenging bridges in difficult terrains.
Currently, 7 out of the 13 bridges planned for the project are finished, with work progressing on the remaining structures.
The dedication of IRCON, under the supervision of the NFR, reflects a strong commitment to executing this project efficiently. The NFR official highlighted that the Sivok-Rangpo railway project is set to transform rail connectivity to Sikkim, greatly reducing travel time, enhancing tourism, and facilitating trade. This strategic infrastructure improvement is vital for boosting socio-economic conditions, providing better accessibility, and reinforcing national integration.
The NFR, which operates across all northeastern states as well as seven districts of West Bengal and five districts of north Bihar, remains devoted to the prompt completion of this transformative project to ensure that the advantages of improved rail infrastructure reach the residents of West Bengal and Sikkim as soon as possible, Sharma emphasized.
