Breakthrough in Sevoke–Rangpo Railway Project Tunnel

SANJAY AGARWAL, EOI, RANGPO, AUGUST 8, 2024: A milestone was achieved in the Sevoke–Rangpo Railway Project on Thursday with the successful breakthrough in Tunnel T6, marking an important step forward in the endeavor to connect Sikkim with the national railway network.

The tunnel, which spans 3.94 km and includes one audit (a secondary passage) measuring 600 meters, has been a challenging feat of engineering due to the difficult terrain and environmental conditions. The work on Tunnel T6 was executed by ITD Cementation, a company known for its expertise in complex infrastructure projects. This tunnel represents the 12th out of a total of 14 tunnels on the Sevoke–Rangpo Rail Project where the mining process has been successfully completed.

The construction of Tunnel T6 faced numerous obstacles, including frequent landslides, blockages on National Highway 10, and extremely poor rock strata. This made the excavation process particularly demanding. Despite these adversities, the project team displayed remarkable resilience and determination, leading to the successful completion of the mining work. With the breakthrough in Tunnel T6, the project has moved closer to its goal, with only two tunnels remaining to be completed.