Railway project connecting Siliguri to Sikkim to be completed by 2027: CM Prem Singh Tamang

In a major step forward for Sikkim’s infrastructure and tourism, Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang announced that the long-awaited railway line linking Siliguri (Sevok) in West Bengal to Sikkim is expected to be completed by 2027.

The announcement came on the final day of the Discover Rabong Cho-Dzo Fest 2025. Once up and running, the new rail connection is set to make travel to the Himalayan state far easier and more accessible—whether you’re a visitor or a local resident.

Highway network gets a lift

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In addition to the railway project, CM Tamang also unveiled plans for the construction of the Melli to Singtam Highway, a vital route that will further boost intra-state connectivity. He also confirmed that ongoing maintenance work on National Highway 10 (NH10) is progressing steadily.

Once NH10 is fully upgraded, travel time between Siliguri and Sikkim could drop to just two hours, helping both tourism and daily travel.

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NFR drives railway infrastructure forward

At the same time, the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has been working full steam ahead to upgrade rail infrastructure across the region. Between April 2024 and March 2025, NFR successfully built 11 Road Over Bridges (ROBs) and 26 Road Under Bridges (RUBs)—all aimed at improving safety and travel efficiency.

As part of a wider safety initiative, the NFR also removed 28 manned level crossings (MLCs) by building a combination of ROBs, RUBs, Low Height Subways (LHS), closing some crossings directly, and rerouting others.

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Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of NFR, explained that these upgrades were carried out in partnership with several agencies, including the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), various Railway Divisions, Construction Wings, and different state governments.

These efforts, Sharma noted, are helping reshape transport in Northeast India—making it safer, reducing traffic congestion and delays, and ensuring smoother train operations. It’s also expected to give a solid boost to both logistics and passenger travel across the region.

(With inputs from ANI)