The Hindu Business Line : Train connectivity from Sikkim to rest of the country soon

The Minister of State for Railways, Mr R. Velu, said that the Centre had asked for a survey to be done on a possible rail link to Sikkim from Sevoke near Siliguri in West Bengal to Rangpo, the border entry point town to Sikkim.

Mr Velu said that the survey was at advanced stages of submission by the Northern Frontier Railways to the Railway Board.

The broad gauge project is estimated to cost Rs 1334.70 crore, covering a total distance of 52.7 km from Sevoke to Rangpo.

“Once the survey is completed and the report submitted to the Railway Board, we will take it further,” he said. “We are anxious to see that the entire North east region is well connected through the Railways,” he added.

It was also announced that the Railway Ministry would increase the number of passenger reservation systems (RPS) in the State from the present five. “Some more RPS would be opened in major tourist destinations of the State,” Mr Velu said. The Railway Ministry had agreed in-principle to this provided the State Government provided free infrastructure and manpower to run the reservation systems. The Minister for State, who is on a three-day visit to Sikkim, arrived here yesterday. This morning, he attended a meeting with the Sikkim Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha MPs, Mr O.T. Lepcha and Mr Nakul Das Rai and the Minister, State Transport Department, Mr Menlom Lepcha at the Secretariat here.

Various issues regarding railway connection to Sikkim were discussed during the meeting, which included the possibility of railway linkages up to the Nathula and opening of more railway booking counters in Sikkim.

The Sevoke-Rangpo rail line will be part of the first phase of railway infrastructure development for Sikkim. In the second phase, the State may demand a possible extension of the railway line.

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