Sevoke-Rangpo rail survey in advanced stage: Velu

Gangtok, June 28: The survey report of railway link from Sevoke in Siliguri to Rangpo in Sikkim is complete and is on the advanced stage of submission to the Central Railway Board, said Union Minister of State for Railways R Velu.

An estimated cost for the 52.7 km Sevoke-Rangpo railway project is Rs.1334.70 crore which will be Rs 25.32 crore per km, Mr Velu told in a news conference.

Regarding the demand made by the Sikkim government for extension of railway network to Gangtok, Mr Velu said a further survey was being planned in the second stage. The survey will be done to see up to which point nearest to Gangtok can the railways be feasibly extended, he added.

He also said the Central Railways would not insist on 14 per cent rent on return for NE states despite its aggressive marketing stand.

Responding to the queries for extending the railways upto Nathu La with the border trade in the background, Mr Velu said the Indian Railways was open to suggestions. ''We will cast the bridge as it comes,'' he replied.

The Union Minister for State had earlier discussed with the state MPs, state transport minister and departmental officers regarding the extension of railway services.

The state government had requested for more Passenger Reservation Systems (PRS) in the tourist hotspots of Sikkim.

Mr Velu assured that PRS network can be extended provided the state government offered free building and staff. The state's demand for increase of emergency quota in the Indian Railways will also be examined, he assured.

Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS) will also be incorporated in the state PRS network, Mr Velu said.

The Union Minister for State is scheduled to visit Thegu in North Sikkim tomorrow where he will be inspecting a PRS. Thegu is a restricted area and dominated by a strong military presence. He will be visiting Darjeeling and inspect a railway workshop at Thindaria, Kurseong subdivision on June 30.

UNI