Gangtok, Nov. 6: Sikkim is finally set to get a rail link with the Union cabinet committee on economic affairs today giving the go-ahead for construction of a new broad gauge railhead at Rangpo, the main entry point to the state.
According to a Press Information Bureau communique, the project which will link Sevoke to Rangpo, a distance of 52.7km, has been estimated to cost Rs 1,339 crore and has been given a “national” status by the cabinet committee. The railway ministry will bear 25 per cent of the cost, while the rest will be borne by the Union finance ministry. Rangpo is 35km from here.
The work is likely to begin in 2008-09 and is expected to be completed by 2015-16, depending upon the availability of resources, the release said.
Sevoke, 20km from Siliguri, connects Assam which falls under the Northeast Frontier Railway. When completed Sikkim will be linked to the rest of the country, a demand the Pawan Chamling government has been making for a long time.
The Sikkim Chamber of Commerce has welcomed the Centre’s move. The rail link is vital for the rapid economic development of the state. “The work on strengthening the infrastructure is badly needed. It will benefit both passengers and goods carriers. The tourism trade and industrial sector will also get a much-needed boost,” said Chamber president S.K. Sarda.
At present, the people of Sikkim depend on NH31A, the only road link from Siliguri. The nearest railhead is in New Jalpaiguri and the closest airport is in Bagdogra, about 120km away from here.
In another development, the construction of the airport at Pakyong, 30km from here — the cabinet committee had last month approved the the project — will commence next month.
“But first we will review the Rs 350-crore project with the Union cabinet secretary, K.M. Chandrashekhar, who will arrive here tomorrow,” said Sudhir Raheja, the executive director (engineering) of the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
The director-general of civil aviation, Sandeep Prakash, who flew in from Bagdogra today, echoed him. “The airport project will be discussed with the cabinet secretary,” he said.
The airport will allow twin-engine ATR planes to operate. The Sikkim cabinet had sanctioned Rs 50 crore as the first installment for the project to be taken up by the AAI.
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