Sikkim Rail Connectivity Surges, Railway Board CEO Assesses Progress Of Sivok-Rangpo BG Project

Rail connectivity to Sikkim may soon become a reality with the work on the Sivok-Rangpo project progressing well.

In a significant development, Jaya Varma Sinha, Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board, conducted an inspection and comprehensive review of the progress made in Tunnel No. 1, 7, 8, and the underground station as part of the project.

The Sivok – Rangpo new rail link project connecting Sivok (West Bengal) and Rangpo (Sikkim) is about 45 km long. The Broad-Gauge project of national importance will bring Sikkim under the Indian Railways network.

It is characterised by 14 tunnels, 13 major bridges, 9 minor bridges and 5 stations. The length of the longest tunnel (T-10) is 5.3 km and the length of the longest bridge (Br-17) is 425 metres. About 38.65 km of the entire project alignment is passing through tunnels.

At present final lining has been completed in tunnel T-14 and T-09 and is under progress in tunnels T-02, T-03, T-05, T-06, T-07, T-10, T-11 and T-12. A total of 10.89 km of lining has been completed.

This is o­ne of the most prestigious o­ngoing National Projects in India and o­n completion, it will mark the first railway connection to the state of Sikkim.