Parliamentary committee on Railways reviews strategic infrastructure

A high-level Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways, comprising Members of Parliament from both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and chaired by Dr CM Ramesh, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha), is undertaking a study visit to Gangtok, Kolkata and Rishikesh from June 4 to June 9.

The visit underscores the national importance accorded to railway infrastructure development, connectivity enhancement and capacity augmentation across the country, particularly in the Northeastern region.

As part of the study visit, the committee visited key project sites of the Sivok-Rangpo Railway Line Project on June 4, 2026, including railway stations, tunnels and bridges, and obtained first-hand insights into the progress of this landmark connectivity initiative. IRCON informed the Committee that the 44.96-km Sivok-Rangpo Railway Line, which will provide the first rail connectivity to Sikkim, is targeted for completion by December 2027 and has achieved 77 per cent physical progress so far.

The delegation also visited the Rangpo Railway Station site and Tunnel No. 14. The Committee was accompanied by Chetan Kumar Shrivastava, General Manager of NFR, the Divisional Railway Manager of Alipurduar Division, along with senior Railway officials from Headquarters, NFR (Construction), IRCON and RITES Limited.

On June 5, 2026, at Gangtok, the committee is scheduled to hold an informal discussion with the General Manager, Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), and the Chairman & Managing Director, IRCON International Limited, on the subject “Expansion of Rail Network in Northeast and Union Territories” with special emphasis on the Sivok-Rangpo Railway Line Project.

The interaction is expected to provide valuable insights into the ongoing efforts to strengthen rail connectivity, enhance transportation infrastructure and foster sustainable socio-economic development across the Northeastern region.

The study visit underscores the national importance attached to strengthening railway infrastructure in the Northeastern region. The discussions are expected to highlight the transformative role of railway connectivity in enhancing regional integration, improving accessibility and supporting socio-economic development in remote and strategically important areas. Upon completion, the Sivok-Rangpo Railway Line Project is expected to provide Sikkim with direct rail connectivity, facilitating faster movement of passengers and freight while creating new opportunities for tourism, trade and economic growth.

The interaction will also provide an opportunity to deliberate on cross-border railway connectivity initiatives and the unique engineering and infrastructure challenges associated with railway construction in the Northeastern region.

The Committee’s visit reflects the continued focus of the Government of India and the Ministry of Railways on expanding rail infrastructure and improving transportation networks across the country. Such interactions and field visits play an important role in facilitating informed discussions on key infrastructure initiatives and reinforcing the shared commitment towards strengthening rail connectivity, supporting regional development and accelerating economic growth.

Northeast Frontier Railway remains committed to the timely execution of railway infrastructure projects and to realizing the vision of enhanced connectivity, inclusive development and greater prosperity for the people of the Northeastern region.