The Ministry of Railways has granted authorization for the final alignment survey of a proposed rail corridor stretching from Melli to Dentam, traversing the pivotal junctures of Jorethang and Legship within Sikkim, as confirmed in an official communique on Saturday, May 10.
This comprehensive survey will be executed by the Northeast Frontier Railway, with an allocated budget of ₹2.25 crore, representing a significant stride in bridging the infrastructural void that has historically isolated southern and western Sikkim from the broader national rail matrix, as reported by PTI.
Spanning approximately 75 kilometers, this prospective route is envisaged as a critical extension of the Sivok-Rangpo railway endeavor, a major infrastructural undertaking currently under construction with an anticipated completion horizon of 2027.
Strategically situated, Melli is poised to become a pivotal gateway, facilitating seamless integration for this expansion into the national rail tapestry, thereby reinforcing connectivity for the region’s hinterlands.
The ministry further emphasized that this conclusive location survey is designed to furnish the essential technical framework, delineating precise alignment, engineering parameters, and a comprehensive cost matrix for the undertaking.
This initiative signifies a pivotal advancement in the ongoing mission to augment rail access within southern and western Sikkim, a move anticipated to substantially uplift the economic prospects of locales such as Gyalshing and its environs. The project aspires to invigorate tourism, enhance logistical efficiency, stimulate commerce, and foster employment generation.
Preparatory steps for tender issuance concerning these survey works are expected to commence in the near future.
