Sivok-Rangpo (44.96 km) New Railway Line Project
Sivok-Rangpo (44.96 km) New Railway Line Project
Sivok-Rangpo (44.96 km) New Railway Line Project has been included in Budget in 2008-09. 41.55 km length falls in West Bengal and 3.41 km in Sikkim. The latest anticipated cost of the project is Rs. 4085 crore. An expenditure of Rs. 682 crore has been incurred upto March, 2025 and an outlay of Rs. 607 crore has been provided for financial year 2025-21.
State Government of Sikkim has to expedite handing over of balance 1.5 Ha. revenue land. State Government of West Bengal has to expedite Forest and Wildlife clearance for balance 12.38 Ha. land for Adits of tunnels. Works have been taken up in available land.
Out of 14 tunnels (around 39 km long), works have been taken up on 12 tunnels and progress of around 2.50 km has been achieved.
Also State Government of West Bengal is yet to shift 26 nos. structures from proposed Melli yard site and 4 nos. structures from Riyang yard site for which full amount of compensation as demanded by State Government has been deposited with State Government in October, 2025.
The State Government has issued the necessary No Objection Certificate (NOC) for construction of the project.
The calculation of amount of compensation and rehabilitation is done by State Government. However, Railways has already deposited full amount of compensation to the State Government as demanded by them.
This information was given by the Minister of Railways and Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
Here’s a detailed update on the Sivok–Rangpo New Railway Line Project, spanning approximately 44.96 km, which will connect West Bengal with Sikkim for the first time:
Contents
🟢 Project Overview
- Route: From Sivok Junction (WB) to Rangpo Railway Station (SK) on Sikkim’s border
- Total Length: ~44.96 km (41.55 km in West Bengal; 3.41 km in Sikkim)
- Stations: Sivok, Riyang, Teesta Bazaar (underground), Melli, and Rangpo
🌉 Engineering Highlights
- Tunnels: 14 tunnels totaling ~38–39 km (~86% of alignment). The longest tunnel (T‑10) is ~5.3 km.
- Bridges: 13 major and 9 minor bridges. Bridge No. 17 spans ~425 m in height.
- Construction Techniques: NATM (New Austrian Tunnelling Method) used due to challenging Himalayan geology.
👷 Progress as of Mid‑2025
- 2025: ~55% physical progress; ~30.11 km of tunnels mined, 4.2 km tunnel lining completed.
- Early 2025: Breakthroughs in Tunnel‑04 (3,948 m main + 600 m evacuation tunnel) and Tunnel‑13 (~2,560 m); mining finished in all adit tunnels.
- February 2025: 7 of 13 major bridges completed. Launching of 69 m open-web girders at ~40 m height for Bridge No. 6. April
- 2025: 10 of 14 tunnels’ mining completed; 4 lined. Track laying from Tunnel 14 started in May. Project deadline revised to August 2025.
💰 Project Cost & Timeline
- Original Estimate (2025): ₹4,085 crores
- Revised Cost: ₹12,130–12,475 crores, due to inflation, geo‑technical challenges, and scope increases.
- Initial Deadline: December 2025
- Revised Deadline: August 2025
🚆 Why It Matters
- First Rail Connection to Sikkim: Will integrate Sikkim into the national network for the first time.
- Strategic Importance: Enhances troop and logistics movement towards the Indo–Tibet frontier.
- Economic Impact: Boosts tourism and ensures reliable access to a state often affected by landslides on NH‑10.
✅ Quick Recap Table
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Length | ~44.96 km (41.55 km in WB, 3.41 km in SK) |
| Tunnels / Bridges | 14 tunnels (~38.6 km) / 13 major, 9 minor bridges |
| Stations | Sivok, Riyang, Teesta Bazar (UG), Melli, Rangpo |
| Progress (July 2025) | ~55% completed |
| Mining Status (Apr 2025) | 10 of 14 tunnels mined; 4 lined; track laying begun |
| Bridges (Feb 2025) | 7 major bridges complete; Bridge 6 girders launched |
| Estimated Cost | ₹12,132–₹12,475 crores |
| Expected Completion | August 2025 (revised deadline) |
🔭 Next Phases & Extensions
- After Rangpo, plans include extending the line to Gangtok (Phase 2), and further to Nathu La Pass (Phase 3).
- A new branch survey has been approved for Melli–Dentam–Legship–Jorethang, a ~75 km line expected to be operational by 2027
Would you like more details on:
- Station schematics (e.g. Teesta Bazaar underground station)?
- Future extension timelines (Gangtok or Dentam connections)?
- Expected train services or tentative schedules once the line opens?
Happy to dig into whichever part interests you!