In view of the impressive rail, road and air connectivity that China has steadily built up over the years between its border areas and mainland, the extension up to Nathu La has become a strategic necessity. India has been playing catch-up with China with a slew of similar connectivity projects on its side of the border with China in its East and Northeast, though on a smaller scale.

The importance of good link roads in Sikkim came to the fore durng the recent India-China faceoff in the Himalayas over troop movements in the Doklam area. Defence analysts point out that the Chinese are in a much stronger position vis-à-vis India as far as arranging large scale military mobilisation is concerned.

Official sources acknowledge that there had occurred an inordinate delay in the construction of the Sevak (W.Bengal) to Rangpo (Sikkim) link, largely on account of environmental issues raised by the West Bengal Government. The rehabilitation of a handful of people, always a politically contentious issue in the state, was another hurdle.

In consequence, the 45 kilometres long linkage project, involving the laying of lines through a difficult terrain, remained stalled since 2009. But for the intervention of the Supreme Court, which ordered the West Bengal government to arrange for environmental clearances within a short timeframe, the delay could have been prolonged----never mind the defence-related priorities!

The cost of the work, which involves the laying of 14 tunnels and the building of 28 bridges, is around Rs 1340 crore. Only 7.5% of the length of the line falls in Sikkim. The largest tunnel will be around 5116 metres long. Railway authorities say despite the additional costs involved, there was more stress on underground work because of environmental and engineering issues in a seismically active region. The labour force again has to be deployed only during daytime, in view of uncertain weather conditions.

Although the project was inaugurated with much fanfare by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during her controversial tenure as the Minister for Railways nine years ago, problems arose regarding the impact of the work over a 9 hectare patch of forest land within the Mahananda Wild Life Sanctuary. Environmentalists and civil rights groups staged protests, bringing work to a halt. The matter had to be resolved at the Apex Court.

Railway sources pointed out that, on the other hand, that the rehabilitation of some people over a mere 2.7 acres of land also posed problems. The state insisted that the Railways arrange for their relief and rehab through a committee to be set up for the purpose.

North Frontier Railway authorities tasked to complete the work clarified that they lacked the legal authority to undertake any such such initiative. Eventually the court ordered that the state must process environmental and other related clearances within eight weeks, to enable the resumption and completion of the work. (IPA Service)