Sikkim’s capital, Gangtok, could soon move closer to getting its first railway connection, with Indian Railways prioritising a proposed 34-km rail link between Rangpo and Gangtok. The project is estimated to cost around ₹9,000 crore and is being examined as the next phase of railway connectivity to the state. Read on to know more about the project.
Sikkim’s Gangtok To Get First Railway Link
The proposed Rangpo-Gangtok line was recently taken up by the Integrated Multimodal Network Planning Group (NPG), the multimodal evaluation body working under the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan. The move is aimed at assessing the proposed extension and laying the groundwork for the next stage of rail connectivity to Sikkim.
The line is planned as an extension of the ongoing Sivok-Rangpo railway project, which will provide Sikkim with its first direct railway connection once completed. The 44.5-km Sivok-Rangpo railway line connects Sivok in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district with Rangpo in East Sikkim. The project is being built at an estimated cost of ₹17,124 crore and is targeted for completion by December 2027.
Around 75% of the physical work has been completed. However, the project has faced several challenges because of the difficult Himalayan terrain. The route involves extensive tunnelling and the construction of major bridges, with the project featuring 14 tunnels and 13 major bridges.
Also Read: Sikkim To Replace Paperwork With New Online Tourist Permits: What Travellers Must Know
Rangpo-Gangtok Link To Boost Connectivity
Once the Sivok-Rangpo section is completed, the proposed Rangpo-Gangtok link would extend the railway network further into Sikkim and connect it to the state capital. The Railways is now examining the proposed extension so that planning for the next section can move forward alongside the completion of the existing project. The connection could significantly improve rail access for passengers travelling to Gangtok and reduce the state’s dependence on road transport.
The move is also part of the Centre’s broader effort to improve railway connectivity to the capitals of the northeastern states. Four state capitals in the region currently have railway links. The completion of the Sivok-Rangpo project, followed by the proposed Gangtok extension, would further expand this network.
Also Read: Tsomgo Lake To Baba Harbhajan Singh: 5 Places To Visit In Sikkim Inspired By Bhumi Pednekkar
According to reports by The Times of India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had reviewed the progress of the Sivok-Rangpo project in 2021 and directed the Railway Ministry to fix accountability for delays. With work now progressing on the project, the proposed Rangpo-Gangtok line could take Sikkim another step closer to bringing its capital onto India’s railway map.
Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
FAQs
Is there a railway line in Sikkim?
Sikkim does not currently have an operational railway line, but its first rail link is under construction.
Can we go Sikkim by train?
You cannot take a direct train to Sikkim because the state does not have an active railway station yet, but you can travel by train to the closest railway hub in West Bengal—New Jalpaiguri (NJP) or Siliguri—and then complete the journey by road.
Which railway station is closest to Sikkim?
New Jalpaiguri (NJP) in West Bengal is the closest major railway station to Sikkim, located about 120 to 125 kilometres away from the capital city of Gangtok.
