RAIL LINK TO SIKKIM

RAIL LINK TO SIKKIM


GANGTOK, November 06: In a pre New Year’s gift for Sikkim, the Centre today formally approved a rail link for this landlocked Himalayan State connecting it with the rest of the nation.
A press release from PIB informs that the Union Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs today gave its approval for taking up construction of new 52.7 km long broad gauge line from Sevoke in Siliguri of West Bengal to Rangpo in Sikkim.
The project will provide much-needed rail connectivity to Sikkim, a demand persistently followed by the Chief Minster Pawan Chamling
This rail link approval comes close on the heels of the Union Cabinet on Economic Affairs giving sanction to the construction of a green airfield at Pakyong, East Sikkim.
The PIB release informs that the broad gauge rail link upto Rangpo has been approved at a cost of Rs. 1339.48 crores and has been given a ‘National Project’ status. This roughly comes to Rs. 25.41 crores per km of the rail link.
It will be funded as per the funding pattern of 25 percent from GBS for Railways and 75 percent from Ministry of finance as an additionality as has already been approved for similar other projects of North Eastern Region, the PIB release adds. Already, nine national projects covering the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur and Tripura are under construction.
With the new broad gauge line upto Rangpo being approved, it will provide rail connectivity to Sikkim and besides making possible the direct movement of freight and passengers from this region to other parts of the country.
The work on the project is expected to commence during 2008-09 and is expected to be completed by 2015-16 depending upon availability of resources, the release adds.
Elated with the news, Sikkim Chamber of Commerce (SCC) has promptly thanked the Centre for the approval of the rail project for Sikkim after the approving the Pakyong airport also earlier.
“The work on strengthening of infrastructure in this strategic State was of urgent need to provide alternative mode of transportation for goods and people”, said SK Sarda, SCC president.
“The tourism sector, the trade sector, the industrial sector- all will get a boost in times to come providing more opportunities for growth, employment and revenue generation in Sikkim”, Mr. Sarda added.

( sOURCE: SIKKIM EXPRESS)