Guwahati, May 11, 2025
The Ministry of Railways has approved a final location survey for a new railway line in Sikkim. The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), headquartered in Guwahati, will conduct the ₹2.25 crore survey for the project, which aims to connect Melli, on the state’s border with West Bengal, to Dentam on the India-Nepal border. This route, about 75 km long, is a strategic extension of the under-construction Sivok-Rangpo railway line, expected to be operational by 2027. The proposed route will bridge a vital infrastructure gap, linking remote towns like Dentam with the national railway network. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw directed the survey following a demand from Sikkim’s lone Lok Sabha member, Indra Hang Subba. Melli, a key entry point to southern and western Sikkim, is likely to serve as a junction for the proposed extension.
