The Ministry of Railways has sanctioned Rs 8.48 crore for conducting the Final Location Survey (FLS) of the proposed Melli-Dentam railway line in Sikkim. The approval marks a significant step toward expanding rail connectivity to the southern and western regions of the border state.

According to an official communication issued on October 24, the Railway Ministry conveyed the fund allocation to the Northeast Frontier Railway for undertaking the survey work.

Sikkim Lok Sabha MP Indra Hang Subba had earlier met Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on July 25 this year, urging him to expedite work related to the Melli-Dentam railway project. The MP had requested timely completion of the FLS, approval of the Detailed Project Report (DPR), and early execution of the project, highlighting its importance in improving accessibility, boosting tourism, and strengthening national security in the region.

In a separate development, the Ministry of Railways has also approved an increase in the frequency of the Dehradun–Tanakpur Express (Train No. 15019/15020). In a letter to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the Railway Minister informed that the weekly train will now operate three days a week.

Welcoming the decision, Chief Minister Dhami termed it a public-oriented initiative that will enhance convenience for passengers travelling between Dehradun and the Kumaon region. He said the move will strengthen connectivity and tourism between Garhwal and Kumaon and contribute to the state’s economic growth.