It’s a significant milestone in India’s attempts to counter the growing Chinese infrastructure near our country’s borders. With China going full steam ahead with road and rail construction in the Tibet Autonomous Region
(TAR), Sikkim which shares its northern boundary with China, has moved one step closer to getting its first railway line ever.
On Friday, public sector undertaking Ircon which comes under the railway ministry signed an agreement with the Northeast Frontier Railway for constructing the new broad gauge railway line between Sivok in north Bengal to Rangpo in Sikkim. The agreement was signed in Guwahati. While China has made rapid strides in providing road, rail and air links in TAR which in turn would allow it to move its troops towards the Indo-China border swiftly, India appears to have been slow in building similar infrastructure.
The proposed rail track between Sivok and Rangpo will pas through the foothills of Kanchenjunga mountain range and the Teesta river valley. The railway line will be 45-km-long with more than a 32- km stretch in tunnels as also 28 bridges. When completed, this project will is expected to improve connectivity to Sikkim and help boost the state’s economy and tourism.