Sivok-Rangpo (44.96 km) new line project has been included in Budget in 2008-09. 41.55 km length falls in West Bengal and 3.41 km in Sikkim. The latest anticipated cost of the project is Rs. 4085 crore. An expenditure of Rs. 682 crore has been incurred upto March, 2020 and an outlay of Rs. 607 crore has been provided for financial year 2020-21.

State Government of Sikkim has to expedite handing over of balance 1.5 Ha. revenue land. State Government of West Bengal has to expedite Forest and Wildlife clearance for balance 12.38 Ha. land for Adits of tunnels. Works have been taken up in available land.

Out of 14 tunnels (around 39 km long), works have been taken up on 12 tunnels and progress of around 2.50 km has been achieved.

Also State Government of West Bengal is yet to shift 26 nos. structures from proposed Melli yard site and 4 nos. structures from Riyang yard site for which full amount of compensation as demanded by State Government has been deposited with State Government in October, 2014.

The State Government has issued the necessary No Objection Certificate (NOC) for construction of the project.

The calculation of amount of compensation and rehabilitation is done by State Government. However, Railways has already deposited full amount of compensation to the State Government as demanded by them.

This information was given by the Minister of Railways and Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

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DJN/MKV

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