RAILWAYS TO REACH BHUSUK-GANGTOK

SIKKIM: Railway lines to be laid only after survey approved by Railway Boards


GANGTOK, January 22: The joint inspection survey for the railway link with regard to finalisation of stations and terminal stations in the State was conducted today at Rangpo in East Sikkim, where representatives from the Northeast Frontier Railways, Army and State Government officials were present.

During the meet, it was discussed that the new locational survey showing the stretch of rail route to about 44.39 km starting from Sevoke to Rangpo has been completed and that the report for the same have been put forward to the Railway Board for sanctioning.

Railway lines would be laid only after this survey is approved by the Railway Boards.
As per the survey of 44.39 km stretch, 32 km would fall under tunnel. “The tunnel proposed is about 14 and out of which it is learnt that 3 - 4 tunnels would consist of more than 4 km in length,” the officials said.

In regard to second phase of connectivity for a stretch of 69 km connecting Rangpo to Bhusuk, the preliminary engineering traffic (PET) survey has also been completed. Here, the survey team has proposed two more stations – one near Saramsa
Garden/Chota Singtam and the other at just beyond Bhusuk Junior High School
area. Further it is learnt that the train ferrying state would have stoppages at Rangpo main junction, Singtam, Nimtar, Chota Singtam/Saramsa station and Bhusuk.
Speaking to SIKKIM EXPRESS, the officer in charge, BRO said, “We see no problem in regard to Sikkim with railway line coming here but since we are working on double laning and connectivity of railway from Sevok to Rangpo is near to National Highway 31-A, this need to be clarified by the railway authorities.

In the second phase, the inspecting team will be working with nodal departments especially in areas where the rail route passes through forest land and private holdings.

Members from Northeast Frontier, Lieutenant Colonel, 17th Mountain Division, Sidharth Malik, Major Chetan Kumar, OC, BRO, 87 RCC, State Mines and Geology secretary KK Pradhan , Managing Director, Sikkim Mining Corporation BN Sharma, Divisional Forest Officer, East (Territorial) BB Gurung, Revenue Officer from District Collectorate Office GP Sharma, State Land Revenue Joint Secretary BR Subba, State Power Chief Engineer, G Targain, State Transport Chief Engineer (Mechanical division) BK Singh and State Transport Additional Chief Engineer UK Pradhan were present in the joint meeting.