Final Location Survey sanctioned for Melli-Dentam Railway Line

GANGTOK, : The Railways ministry has approved the Final Location Survey for the proposed new railway line in Sikkim stretching from Melli to Dentam via Jorethang and Legship. The ministry on May 8 directed the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) to undertake the Final Location Survey (FLS) besides allocating Rs. 2.25 crore for this crucial survey.

“I am delighted to share that the Railways ministry has approved the Final Location Survey for the new railway line from Melli to Dentam and accordingly, sanctioned funds for this survey. The Final Location Survey is an important stepping stone for the Melli-Dentam railway project which, upon its completion, will have a transformative impact for development and mainstreaming of the remote corners of West Sikkim. We look forward to the early start of the Final Location Survey,” said Lok Sabha MP (Sikkim) Indra Hang Subba.

The proposal with an estimated 75 km covers Melli, Jorethang, Legship and Dentam, connecting the southern and western regions of Sikkim with a railway line.

The Lok Sabha MP had last December submitted the proposal to the Railways ministry, highlighting that it would serve as a lifeline for the people of West Sikkim, bringing remote areas closer to the mainstream economic and social activities.He persistently followed the proposal with the Railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and concerned authorities following which the Railways Board sanctioned the FLS for the Melli-Dentam railway link.

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. The proposal seeks the Melli-Dentam rail link as an extension of the Sevoke-Rangpo railway project which is nearing completion.

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.

“I extend my sincere gratitude to Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for giving his personal attention and consideration to this proposal which now has reached the stage of a Final Location Survey. I would also extend my gratitude to Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang-Golay for his support and guidance to take up this proposal with the Railways ministry,” said the Lok Sabha MP.

Indra Hang emphasized that the Melli-Dentam railway link will serve the southern and western parts of Sikkim in multiple fronts.

“The Melli-Dentam 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. 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,” said the Lok Sabha MP.

On the feasibility part, Indra Hang mentioned that the proposed route would traverse through the banks of Rangeet River up to Legship and then follow the Kalej River banks towards Dentam, making use of a comparatively less challenging terrain than the Sevoke-Rangpo stretch. This makes the project a viable and promising initiative for the Ministry of Railways to undertake, he added.