Tunnel breakthrough on Sevoke – Rangpoproject near Kalimpong

SANJAY AGARWAL, EOI, RANGPO, JAN 18, 2023 :  IRCON International achieved a milestone on Wednesday, the breakthrough of Tunnel no.11 on the Sevoke – Rangpo Railway project.

The breakthrough programme would be done formally on January 23, a red-letter day in West Bengal.

Located under the Kalimpong hills in West Bengal, this would be the sixth main tunnel on the route which is going to achieve a breakthrough. Just a month ago, Tunnel no. 12 between Tarkhola and Sukiakhola had achieved a breakthrough in the presence of officials from the Northeast Frontier Railway and the IRCON.

The completion of six out of 14 tunnels on the route is being considered a landmark achievement. The Sevoke – Rangpo new broad gauge line is about 45 kms long, consisting of 14 tunnels, 17 bridges and five stations. 

Of the entire route, 38.65 km of the entire project alignment would be passing through tunnels. Out of this stretch, the excavation of tunnels has been completed for 25.36 km.

At present, all the activities related to the construction of tunnels, bridges and stations which are a part of the project are going on a war footing. The target date of completion of the project is December 2023.

KalimNews: As per the statement issued by the ministry of Railways, the physical progress till 31st December 2022 was 51.45% .

Of these tunnel mining is 25.36 km, piling is 19537 m and piers is 442 m.

The earthwork is 4Lcum and minor Bridge is 5.

The line, which will connect West Bengal and Sikkim, was estimated to be completed at the cost of ₹1,339.48 crore. But because of the delay in the construction, the cost has escalated to more than ₹5,000 crores.

The project includes 14 tunnels, 17 bridges, and five stations, which include one at Teesta in the Kalimpong district that would be underground.

At least 86% of the route will pass through 14 tunnels out of which 13 tunnels are in West Bengal.

The Sivok – Rangpo railway line will include five railway stations, Sivok, Riyang, Melli, Rangpo, and Teesta Bazaar stations. The line’s 41.55 km length falls in the state of West Bengal and 3.41 km falls in Sikkim.