Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Gangtok: Sikkim Lok Sabha MP Indra Hang Subba demanded faster work on the state's railway infrastructure. He pushed Northeast Frontier Railway officials to pick up the pace during a Zonal Railway Users Consultative Committee meeting in Guwahati on August 25. The veteran lawmaker wants the Sevoke-Rangpo project finished on time and the Melli-Dentam line moved forward quickly.
The Sevoke-Rangpo line is a massive undertaking. It spans 44.96 kilometres. Nearly 86 per cent of this route runs through 14 tunnels. The project also requires 13 major bridges and several smaller ones. Workers are currently building five stations at Sevoke, Riyang, Teesta Bazar, Melli, and Rangpo. Most of the track sits in West Bengal, with 41.55 kilometres there and only 3.41 kilometres in Sikkim.
Subba eyes a December 2027 completion date. He views this as vital for the Himalayan state. "The Sevoke-Rangpo rail line would provide the Himalayan state with its first direct railway connection, significantly boosting tourism, trade, economic development and passenger mobility," Subba said. He also wants the Final Location Survey and Detailed Project Report for the Melli-Dentam project wrapped up soon.
Connectivity drives growth. The MP noted that better rails strengthen regional integration and simplify the movement of goods. He plans to keep pressure on the Ministry of Railways to ensure these border state projects do not stall.
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