Centre approves final survey for new railway line bringing Sikkim closer to national network

NEW DELHI: In a landmark move that brings Sikkim one step closer to realising its long-cherished dream of rail connectivity, the Ministry of Railways has approved the Final Location Survey (FLS) for a new railway line from Melli to Dentam via Jorethang and Legship.
The ambitious project, set to be executed by the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), has been allocated a sanctioned budget of around Rs 2.25 crore.
Sharing the update with this the TNIE, ED (I&P) at Railway Ministry, Dileep Kumar on Sunday said, 'This move marks a major step forward in expanding rail connectivity to the southern and western regions of Sikkim'.
Highlighting the strategic significance of what would be Sikkim's second railway line, Kumar added that the rail route is designed to bridge a crucial infrastructure gap linking remote areas such as Dentam, located near the Indo-Nepal border at Chiwabhanjyang, with the national railway network.
Kumar further said that Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has personally directed the initiation of the survey and expedited the process to bring this long-pending demand closer to reality. The push for this line has been a consistent effort by Sikkim's Lok Sabha MP Indra Hang Subba, and the Modi government's approval of the survey has added a pace forward on this project.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Indian Express

26 minutes ago

• Indian Express

ACB arrests AMC estate inspector in disproportionate assets case

The Gujarat Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested an estate inspector of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) for alleged possession of disproportionate assets (DA) to the tune of Rs 3.07 crore, according to a statement. The ACB statement issued on Thursday stated that the accused Jignesh Surendra Shah, a Class-2 Estate/TDO Inspector of East Zone of the AMC, was booked and arrested for the alleged possession of disproportionate assets (DA) to the tune of Rs 3.07 crore, which it alleged was 102.47% disproportionate to his known sources of income. According to the statement, the ACB conducted its preliminary inquiry based on an application it received regarding Shah's allegedly disproportionate assets. The ACB said that the period of investigation ranged between April 1, 2012 and March 31, 2022, during which the officer had allegedly used unlawful means to accumulate disproportionate assets. The investigation is being carried out by ACB Police Inspector VD Chaudhary. Further probe into the matter is underway.

Indian Express

31 minutes ago

• Indian Express

Gujarat: 40-km detour for Chhota Udepur commuters after Bharaj river diversion closed

The commute to and from the tribal district Chhota Udepur would now require a detour of an additional 40 kilometers after the district administration ordered the closure of a makeshift diversion constructed on the Bharaj river and witnessed a partial washout due to heavy rains. The diversion made on the riverbed by making culverts in the riverpath has been the only connection for vehicular traffic to the tribal district after the dilapidated main bridge on NH56, over the river, collapsed in August 2024 due to heavy rains. On Saturday, District Collector Gargi Jain and officials of the district police department rushed to the spot as the diversion was washed out due to heavy rain. The diversion was ordered to be closed until the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) examined the same for structural stability. Instead, vehicular traffic was directed to take the old highway connecting Chhota Udepur to Vadodara, which means a detour of 40 km. Sharing more details, Jain said, 'The diversion that was created on the Bharaj bridge has shown several cracks. The NHAI is conducting a structural stability analysis and once the report is received, we will decide based on the strength of the structure assessed if it should be opened to traffic. For now, we are closing the diversion'. 'There is an old diversion road that can be used by motorists in the interim. We will decide after the NHAI report what should be done,' the district collector added. The Bharaj bridge has been a contentious issue since July 2023, when it was damaged due to flooding after water was released from the Sukhi dam. The bridge was subsequently closed for a long time. In August 2024, a major part of the dilapidated bridge had collapsed during the monsoon. The NHAI is currently working on constructing a new bridge over the river, the foundation stone for which was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit on May 26 this year. The new bridge is estimated to be built at a cost of Rs 26 crore.

Time of India

32 minutes ago

• Time of India

Strict action will be taken against projects lacking proper permissions, says HYDRAA chief

Hyderabad: At the Times Home Hunt Property Expo held recently, Hyderabad Disaster Management and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) commissioner A V Ranganath cautioned that any new projects lacking proper permissions or built on encroached land will face strict action. 'Only layouts approved before HYDRAA's formation on July 19 last year will be exempt. All others must comply with current regulations,' said Ranganath, noting that unchecked construction contributed significantly to urban issues like flooding and traffic congestion. HYDRAA was set up not just as a watchdog, he said, but also as a proactive body aimed at promoting sustainable and responsible urban development. 'HYDRAA is not just about demolitions. We are focused on creating a healthier, more environmentally conscious real estate ecosystem,' Ranganath added. The authority is working closely with other agencies to rejuvenate lakes, address urban flooding, and improve drainage infrastructure. He also pointed out that traffic congestion alone costs the state nearly Rs 300 crore in infrastructure loss, underscoring the need for better planning. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo 'We received criticism that HYDRAA slowed real estate activity, but there were geopolitical concerns, delays in RERA clearances, and approval bottlenecks at GHMC and HMDA—also played a role. If a project is legally approved, we won't interfere. Our aim is to ensure compliance and environmental responsibility,' he said.