Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang announced on the final day of the Discover Rabong Cho-Dzo Fest 2025 that the long-awaited railway project connecting Siliguri (Sevok) in West Bengal with Sikkim will be completed by 2027.
This project is expected to significantly improve connectivity and make travel to the state easier and more accessible for tourists. In addition, Chief Minister Tamang unveiled plans for the construction of the Melli-Singtam Highway, which will further strengthen the region’s transport network.
Maintenance work on National Highway 10 (NH10) is currently underway. Once completed, this work is expected to reduce the travel time between Siliguri and Sikkim to just two hours.
To increase operational efficiency, reduce delays, and improve connectivity, the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has constructed a total of 11 road overbridges (ROBs) and 26 road underbridges (RUBs) between April 2024 and March 2025.
The NFR has made significant progress in improving railway safety and infrastructure in Assam, Bihar, and West Bengal by removing 28 staffed level crossings (MLCs) during this period. Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, CPRO of Northeast Frontier Railway, explained that between April 2024 and March 2025, 28 staffed level crossings (MLCs) have been removed through a combination of road overbridges (ROBs), road underbridges (RUBs), lower level underbridges (LHS), direct closures, and planned diversions.
He added that these infrastructure improvements were implemented by various institutions such as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), railway divisions, construction departments, and deposit-collecting agencies in collaboration with state governments and other stakeholders. Kapinjal Kishore Sharma also mentioned that these developments have already begun to transform the transportation landscape in Northeast India.Notable benefits include the elimination of accident-prone level crossings, reduction of road congestion and travel delays, uninterrupted train travel, and overall improvement in logistics and passenger transport.
