Sivok-Rangpo Railway Project Faces Delays Due to Natural Calamities in Sikkim

The ardent railway project to link Sivok in Bengal with Rangpo in the Himalayan state has been hindered by frequent natural calamities, like as landslides and flash floods on the Teesta, which disrupt road links in Sikkim and Kalimpong district.

Sivok is a station on the Dooars railway route that links Alipurduar Junction and Siliguri Junction. It is situated approximately 20 kilometers away from Siliguri.

The railway project to link Sikkim's border town of Rangpo was started in 2009. The minister of railways at the time was Mamata Banerjee.

"There are several obstacles in the way of the project's implementation. Our equipment and cargo are impacted by the frequent landslides along NH10. The construction of tunnels and the storage of various materials are being impeded by landslides, flash floods on the Teesta, and erosion, according to Mahender Singh, the project director of IRCON International (Indian Railway Construction International Limited), which has been carrying out the project.

Beyond Sivok, there will be four stops along the 45 kilometer railway track. In Bengal, they are Reang, Teesta Bazaar, and Melli; in Sikkim, they are Rangpo. There will be two road over-bridges, 22 bridges, and 14 tunnels along the route.

For strategic reasons, it is a significant infrastructure project for India. Sikkim is a state that borders China and India. "Having rail connectivity to the state is crucial," a Siliguri-based retired army officer stated.

The project has been delayed, according to sources, for a number of reasons, including the Covid-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, a goal was established to have the rail route completed by December of this year, and there has been some notable development in the last few years.

As of right present, sixty-five percent of the project is finished. Eleven of the 14 tunnels are prepared. Construction is underway on railway yards, stations, and bridges.

The deadline was pushed back to August 2025 by the authorities due to the Teesta's October flash flood. Although the work is ongoing, IRCON International is concerned about the frequent disruptions brought on by natural disasters, according to a source.

In order to guarantee that there is no traffic disturbance along NH10, representatives of IRCON International have written to the Bengal Public Works Department (PWD) and the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

The project director, Singh, stated, "We need reliable road connectivity so that we can continue with our work."

Golay and Gadkari meet

Sikkim's chief minister, P.S. Tamang (Golay), met with Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday and beseeched him for a long-term solution to the ongoing disturbances on the Sevoke-Rangpo section of NH10.

Tamang met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday and asked him to turn over the Bengal section of the highway to national organizations like as the NHAI or NHIDCL for upkeep.

The chief minister sought for another alternative road between Melli and Sintam, which are separated by 22.5 km, and presented Gadkari with a plan for an alternate roadway in the Himalayan state.

According to reports, Tamang brought up the recent rains in northern Sikkim, which caused disruptions to NH310A, the highway connecting Gangtok with the China border, during his conversation with Gadkari. He also requested that the roadway be restored as soon as possible.