Importance of Sevoke- Rangpo rail line stressed

SNS, KALIMPONG, 11 DECEMBER 2018: A seminar called to discuss burning issues in the mountainous regions today heard about the importance of the proposed Sevoke-Rangpo railway project that seeks t o join the Himalayan state of Sikkim to the country's railway map for the first time.

The meeting called on the occasion of the International Mountain Day by the Darjeeling Himalaya Initiative discussed several issues like the human threat to lentic-habitat in the Singalila forest region in Darjeeling.

As various speakers spoke on the importance of conserving the environment, a team from the Indian Railway Construction Company Limited (IRCON), highlighted the importance of Sikkim's railway project that has courted controversy after forest villagers objected to the plans and demanded implementation of the Forest Rights Act in the region first.

Eighty percent of the proposed 45-km rail line is said to be built underground by digging a tunnel, while only 4 km of the tracks will fall in Sikkim, while the remaining will fall under the forest areas of Kalimpong in West Bengal.

"It will be a lifeline for Sikkim as North Bengal and Sikkim are getting connected for the first time in the post independence history" AP Singh, the general manager of IRCON, said. " The reason for 80 percent of the construction underground is to minimise the issue of displacement," he added.

According to Mr Singh, problems occur on National Highway-10, considered the lifeline of Sikkim, during the monsoon,while the Himalayan state is often cut off from the rest of the country after landslides block the road. "The railway line will indeed be a lifeine in such times," he said,

"We cannot avoid rainfall, landslides and road blocks during the monsoon. The rail network will provide double connectivity to this area, while it will also boost tourism and education in the Hills, There will be overall development and generation of employment," Mr Singh said.

According to him, work is going on as per the laws related to environment. "We are trying to complete the work by the year 2021," he added.