The Railway Ministry has approved the final location survey for a proposed 75-kilometre railway line from Melli to Dentam in Sikkim.
Aimed at expanding sustainable transport options and fostering tourism-driven employment, this move could transform access to the largely remote southern and western districts of the state. The new line is expected to pass through Jorethang and Legship, areas that remain poorly connected despite their tourism potential. Once completed, the project will plug critical mobility gaps and align with India’s long-term infrastructure vision of integrating remote regions into the national rail grid. Notably, this proposal follows the ongoing Sivok-Rangpo railway line, which is currently under accelerated construction. The Melli-Dentam line, therefore, represents a strategic extension of this larger connectivity initiative, potentially paving the way for seamless logistics, tourism, and transit operations across Sikkim.
The Sivok-Rangpo line, a key national infrastructure project, covers a total length of 44.96 km—predominantly in West Bengal—with only 3.41 km traversing Sikkim territory. However, its engineering complexity is formidable. Over 86 percent of the route lies in tunnels, with the remaining spread across bridges and open cuts. Among its features are 14 tunnels, including a major 5.3-kilometre bore, and 23 bridges of varying scale. The construction methodology relies on the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), reflecting Indian Railways’ shift towards advanced and environmentally sensitive engineering approaches. Once operational, this line will mark the first-ever rail access into Sikkim—a state known for its ecological sensitivity, strategic geography, and tourism appeal. The current estimated cost of the Sivok-Rangpo line stands at ₹12,474 crore, underscoring the Centre’s commitment to integrating Sikkim with sustainable, all-weather infrastructure. The final survey clearance for the Melli-Dentam route indicates that the government is looking beyond current projects to build a robust, long-term rail network for the Himalayan state.
Beyond just connectivity, the railway infrastructure being built here is a potential catalyst for socio-economic change. With reduced dependence on road transport—often hindered by landslides, limited capacity, and high emissions—the rail line promises a more sustainable, low-carbon alternative for the movement of people and goods. For residents, especially in remote settlements, this could mean consistent access to essential supplies, education, and employment hubs across the region. Moreover, this expansion also aligns with India’s carbon-neutrality goals. By facilitating mass transit over terrain otherwise dominated by high-emission road vehicles, the initiative reflects a growing push toward climate-resilient infrastructure. For a state like Sikkim, where environmental conservation is a core identity, rail-led connectivity could strike the right balance between development and sustainability.
While the actual timeline for the Melli-Dentam route’s completion remains to be determined, the approved survey is a significant milestone. As India advances its rail footprint into new geographies, projects like these reflect the country’s broader commitment to inclusive, future-ready infrastructure planning.
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