Tuesday, Mar 18, 2025 09:45 [IST]
Last Update: Monday, Mar 17, 2025 16:44 [IST]
GANGTOK, : The proposal to connect the southern and western regions of Sikkim
with a railway line is under consideration by the Railways Ministry, for which
a feasibility survey is in the works.
Lok
Sabha MP Indra Hang Subba had last December written to the Railways minister
for new railway connectivity in Sikkim with the estimated 75 km route covering
Melli, Jorethang, Legship and Dentam.
Melli
is the entry point to southern and western districts of Sikkim while Dentam is
a remote town near the Indo-Nepal border at Chiwabhanjyang.
As
per sources, the Northern Frontier Railways (NFR) have asked the Railway Board
to sanction the feasibility study of the proposed new railway line at a cost of
Rs. 37.50 lakh. The request from NFR is under active consideration by the
Railway Board with the sanction expected shortly.
Earlier,
an initial feasibility survey by the Railways had worked out the Melli to
Dentam rail link to be 75 km in length. It was undertaken as directed by
Railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw following the proposal made by Indra Hang in
December 2024.
The
Lok Sabha MP is actively pursuing the proposal with the Railways ministry as
the Melli to Dentam rail link can have a transformative impact on southern and
western parts of Sikkim.
Currently,
the Sevoke-Rangpo railway line is nearing completion which will connect Sikkim
with the national railways map. The Sikkim rail link is expected to be
completed in mid-2026.
Indra
Hang had urged for the Melli-Dentam rail link, passing through Jorethang, as a
strategic extension of the ongoing Sevoke-Rangpo railway project with Melli as
the connecting junction.
The
Railways minister was informed that the proposed railway link would serve as a
lifeline for the people of West Sikkim, bringing remote areas closer to the
mainstream economic and social activities.
The
proposed railway link will be a catalyst for economic development for Gyalshing
and other parts of West Sikkim. A railway link would unlock the economic
potential of the region, spur industrial growth, facilitate trade, and create
employment opportunities, the Lok Sabha MP said.
Improved
rail connectivity would open up new avenues for tourism by making West Sikkim’s
pristine eco-tourism and cultural tourism destinations more accessible to
visitors, the Lok Sabha MP had submitted in his proposal to the Railways
minister.
