📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Shibangkp
Travel
Indian Railways accelerates Gangtok rail link as Sivok‑Rangpo line nears completion
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 03 Oct 2026, 04:02 PM
👁 9
The Sivok‑Rangpo railway project, which will connect Sikkim’s capital Gangtok to the national network, is approaching completion, prompting the Ministry of Railways to fast‑track the final link work.
The Ministry of Railways announced that the Sivok‑Rangpo line, a 45‑kilometre stretch in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas, is close to being finished. The line will terminate at Rangpo in Sikkim, paving the way for a future extension to the state capital, Gangtok. Officials said that with the main track largely in place, the remaining work – including tunnelling, bridge construction and signalling – is being expedited to meet the projected 2025 deadline.
The accelerated schedule is part of a broader push to improve connectivity in the North‑East region and boost tourism and trade in Sikkim. Railway engineers have been deploying additional crews and night‑time shifts to speed up the remaining civil works.
Once operational, the rail link is expected to reduce travel time between New Jalpaiguri and Gangtok significantly, offering a faster, more reliable alternative to the current road journey of over six hours. The project also aligns with the government’s goal of integrating remote hill states into the national transport network.
The rail ministry has not disclosed the final cost of the extension to Gangtok, but earlier estimates for the Sivok‑Rangpo segment were around ₹5,000 crore. The line will feature several long tunnels and viaducts, designed to withstand the region’s seismic activity.
Local authorities in Sikkim welcomed the development, citing potential economic benefits for the tourism sector and improved logistics for local businesses.
The accelerated schedule is part of a broader push to improve connectivity in the North‑East region and boost tourism and trade in Sikkim. Railway engineers have been deploying additional crews and night‑time shifts to speed up the remaining civil works.
Once operational, the rail link is expected to reduce travel time between New Jalpaiguri and Gangtok significantly, offering a faster, more reliable alternative to the current road journey of over six hours. The project also aligns with the government’s goal of integrating remote hill states into the national transport network.
The rail ministry has not disclosed the final cost of the extension to Gangtok, but earlier estimates for the Sivok‑Rangpo segment were around ₹5,000 crore. The line will feature several long tunnels and viaducts, designed to withstand the region’s seismic activity.
Local authorities in Sikkim welcomed the development, citing potential economic benefits for the tourism sector and improved logistics for local businesses.