Kochi: The Himalayan state of Sikkim is likely to become a part of the railway network of the country next year, media reports said.
Fifty percent of the 45-km-long Sivok-Rangpo Railway Line is over and most probably trains would chug into the state bordering China in late 2024.
This would make traveling from West Bengal to Sikkim a two hours affair. The Rs 7,876 crore project will help the country to get “infrastructure of strategic importance” in the Himalayan state, the reports said.
About Rs 4,865 crore has been already spent on it till March-end this year, the reports said.
There are 14 tunnels and 23 major and minor bridges. Construction of all five stations has been completed. About 54 per cent of the work has been completed on the ground. The vital link of the railway passes through Darjeeling, Kalimpong and East Sikkim districts.
Sikkim will be connected with the country via West Bengal’s Sivok and Sikkim’s Rangpo.
The line passes through Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary, Kurseong forest division, Darjeeling forest division, Kalimpong forest division and the East Sikkim forest division opening huge potential for the tourism sector.
The area offers fascinating terrains and forest reserves and it is expected to be a hub of tourism industry and employment generation.
Work on all five stations on the 44.96 km long route is over. There are 13 major bridges and 10 minor bridges which are getting ready fast.
Traveling to the strategic Nathula border will become faster for the armed forces.
Road traffic is disrupted during monsoons due to landslides and other climate related issues.
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