Completion of the FLS in the rail line Rangpo-Gangtok puts the Indian Railways firmly on a majestic stride toward finally achieving its purpose-to link the state of Sikkim to the national railway map. The proposed connecting railway that will form the heart of this entire project concerning the Sevoke-Gangtok rail link promises to be highly effective for upgraded communication and the economy in general in the concerned region. Now that FLS is over, the future of the construction will see through further steps as the first railroad of Sikkim takes on shape.
Rangpo-Gangtok Railway Project:
Sikkim, a picture-perfect state among the northeastern states, has been a railway-less territory thus far. The completion of the FLS for the Rangpo-Gangtok railway track finishes a key task in the building of the infrastructure of the state. The stretch is 34.7-kilometer-long and connects the Rangpo of West Bengal with the capital town of the state, Gangtok. This proposed rail link falls under the Sevoke-Gangtok rail link project which would enhance connectivity within the region, therefore growing the economy.
The project would be taken forward after getting clearance from the Railway Board and tenders would be floated for the next phase. According to Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, CPRO of Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR), the construction work of the Sevoke-Rangpo section has already begun and would be completed by December 2026. Soon after that, the Rangpo-Gangtok section would also be taken ahead.
Environmental Issues and Delays:
The Rangpo-Gangtok railway project was sanctioned in 2008-2009. It has been delayed multiple times. Environmental issues have been one of the major causes for the delay. The route goes through the Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary, and it required massive environmental studies and proper planning to minimize the disturbance to the wildlife in the region.
Despite these teething troubles, the project has gone steadily ahead with the key surveys now complete. The total length of the Sevoke-Gangtok rail link is 44.96 kilometers; 41.55 kilometers is in West Bengal and 3.4 kilometers in Sikkim. The project is estimated at Rs. 8,900 crores, which has already seen spending over Rs 335.52 crore on survey, land acquisition, and preliminary construction work.
Key features would compose Sevoke-Gangtok rail link so that journey would be secure and timely.
Composition of tracks will comprise:
14 Tunnels: These will form parts of the railway’s rail line as passage throughout the region, owing to nature’s formation with hills on one of its sides.
13 Bridges: There are rivers and other natural barriers on the way on which a bridge has to be constructed at different points
5 Stations: Sevoke, Riyang, Teesta Bazar, Melli, Rangpo will be the important stoppages for the passengers as well as for carrying goods.
It encompasses the tunneling section of more than 92% for 38.5 kilometers all going towards the completion of tunnels for this project. As such, that component of this railway project marks how difficultly mountainous some landforms are within the area for construction. Today, modern tunneling methods shall be ensured with the level of construction at standard to complement high train velocities, 100 km/h in that case.
Impact on Sikkim and the Region:
The Sevoke-Gangtok rail link will improve connectivity for the state of Sikkim, which always relied on road transport. It will not only make travelling easy for the passengers but will also unlock new avenues for economic development. It will provide better access to markets, enhance tourism, and improve the transportation of essential goods and services.
Aside from that, elevated connectivity through railways to cities such as Kolkata and Delhi would alleviate ease of access to quick travels; hence, boosting the economy at the locality level. The train line will have options for accessing religion, culture, and educational institutions for passengers. Regional integration will also be promoted.
Challenges and Construction Timeline:
Like all the mega infrastructure projects, the Sevoke-Gangtok rail link also experienced delays. The COVID-19 pandemic actually pushed back the construction schedule; it was rescheduled to 2026 from the expected year of completion in 2023. There still is a hope that the project will be completed based on the revised time schedule when FLS was completed along with work in the Sevoke-Rangpo section.
Conclusion
It marks the Final Location Survey for Rangpo-Gangtok, which indeed marks the final step forward in bringing connectivity through railways in Sikkim. Once begun, the railway link between Sevoke and Gangtok shall improve transportation as well as open up the regions for economic developments and connect these regions with broader Indian railway lines. The public will continue to monitor the construction phase, and that is the completion date for the project-work by December 2026.
Refer :
TOI, Link to article
For more updates on the latest developments in the Indian Railway sector, check out our article on Secunderabad Station Redevelopment: Modernization by 2026