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Tunnelno.T-14of the Sivok - RangpoRailProject(SRRP) has achieved another milestone by completing the final Concrete lining o­n 15^th May, 2023.Last year, the milestone of breakthrough of this tunnel was achieved and completion of final concrete lining is a marvellous achievement by the Engineers involved in this project.

In March 2023, the Hon’ble Minister of Railways, Communications, Electronics and Information Technology Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw also inspected this tunnel and appreciated the work. Finally, the auspicious occasion of completion of final concrete lining is marked as a significant event in the history of this project.

This tunnel is the gateway of railway network to the State of Sikkim. The tunnel is about 1977 m long and is situated in the Rangpo Sub-Division of District Pakyong, Sikkim. This tunnel has achieved the credit of being the first in completion of final concrete lining out of 14 tunnels of the Project. The tunnel is located in between Kumrek and Khanikhola in East Sikkim region and traverses through challenging geological conditions of the Lesser Himalaya. New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) has been adopted for the completion of tunnel through challenging and vulnerable groundmass with the supervisions of well experienced engineers from India along with highly experienced foreign engineers in this project. The track linking works will be next activity going to start through this tunnel very soon. Rangpo Station situated just after the Tunnel No. T-14 is also under construction and o­n completion will be a commercial and tourism hub for the State of Sikkim. This railway project will enhance the standard of socio-economic status of the state.

This New Rail Link Project from Sivok to Rangpo is about 45 kms long and is characterised by 14 nos. tunnels, 22 nos. bridges and 5 nos. stations including an underground station at Teesta Bazar, W.B. About 38 kms of the entire project alignment is passing through tunnels, about 76% of tunnelling work has already been completed. The mining work at 6 tunnels already completed and many are o­n the verge of completion of mining. The final concrete lining works at other tunnels have also started. At present all the activities related to construction of tunnels, bridges and stations o­n this project are in progress o­n war footing basis and targeted to complete by December, 2024. This is o­ne of theprestigiousongoingNationalprojectsinIndiaandoncompletionofthisproject,firsttimethe stateofSikkimwillbeconnectedvia railways.

N. F. Railway evacuates all stranded passengers

Efforts to restore the line are o­n

Maligaon, 16^th May, 2022:

Continued inclement weather and incessant rain o­n Monday led to further landslides and water logging at several locations in Lumding - Badarpur hill section of Lumding division apart from the o­nes which were already washed out yesterday. Around 1600 railway passengers stranded at Ditokcherrastation had already been rescued yesterday and were sent up to Badarpur and Silchar. Out of the 1600 passengers, 119 were evacuated by the Indian Air Force.

Stranded passengers of train no. 15615 at New Haflong were moved to Maibang station by buses. 204 passengers had left for Guwahati from Maibang yesterday. Around 169 stranded passenger left for Guwahatifrom Maibang station at 04.30 AM today.

About 571more stranded passengers at Ditokchera station have also been rescued today. The last evacuation special from KM 135 up to Badarpur and Silchar moved at 07:30 pm.

With this Northeast Frontier Railway has successfully completed the evacuation of all the stranded passengers. Coordinated efforts at all the affected stations and coordination with local administration, Assam Rifles, Indain Air Force and NGOs have shown results in these tough and demanding weather conditions.

N. F. Railway conducted the rescued and relief operations of stranded train passengers o­n war footing under the supervision of senior officers of Lumding division and headquarters. Staffs of
various departments have provided their dedicated services day and night for this heroic performance. The o­n-site team effort of P-way Inspectors, Station Masters, Assistant Station Masters, Trolleymen and most importantly the RPF personnel guided by the officers at site have saved lives of many passengers.

The Railways while having put efforts in rescuing the stranded passengers, has also ensured sanitation and medical facility for them. Food and drinking water was provided to all the stranded passengers regularly. Station staff went out of their way to provide food to some passengers out of their own kitchen even when their homes were filling up with the flood waters. Railway Staff at Daotuhaja station have taken shelter in station premises because of floods. Efforts are being made to provide them with food and water.

Passengers expressed their gratitude for rescue and alternative arrangements made by the railway authority. Passengers were satisfied that all necessary measures were taken to bring them by special trains and other mode of transport and also for arranging food for all.

N. F. Railway has also arranged to refund the ticket fares to the affected passengers. Refund amounting to Rs 8 lakhs has already been made for 1006 passengers. Remaining affected passengers can claim their refunds o­n IRCTC website (for e-tickets) and at PRS counters of the concerned stations (for window tickets).

Having rescued and evacuated all the passengers, Railways is now putting all its efforts in restoring the damaged line and re-starting the train services to South Assam, Manipur, Tripura and Mizoram. The continued rain in the area has caused landslides at many more locations. New Haflong station is completely inundated with debris. The empty passenger train standing at the station has been washed off from the tracks due to a massive landslide. The number of breach locations have increased to 53 today (26 locations were indentified yesterday). However, the restoration works at 11 locations have already been completed.

Northeast Frontier Railway is working o­n war footing to ensure connectivity to the affected region.