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{{short description|Town in Sikkim, India, bordering West Bengal}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Rangpo
| other_name =
| settlement_type = Municipality
| image_skyline = Rangpo, Sikkim.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Rangpo Police Checkpoint, Sikkim
| nickname =
| image_map =
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map = India Sikkim#India3#Asia
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Sikkim, India
| coordinates = {{coord|27.175|N|88.530|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Government of Sikkim.svg}} [[Sikkim]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Pakyong District]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type = [[Nagar Panchayat]]
| governing_body = Rangpo Municipal Council
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 333
| population_total = 10,450
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages <ref name="langoff1">{{cite web |title=1977 Sikkim government gazette |url=https://www.sikkim.gov.in/stateportal/UsefulLinks/Gazette1977.pdf |website=sikkim.gov.in |publisher=Governor of Sikkim |access-date=22 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722164022/https://www.sikkim.gov.in/stateportal/UsefulLinks/Gazette1977.pdf |archive-date=22 July 2018 |page=188 |language=en }}</ref><ref name="langoff">{{cite web|url=http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM50thReport.pdf |page=109 |title=50th Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India |date=16 July 2014 |access-date=6 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180102211909/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM50thReport.pdf|archive-date=2 January 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = {{hlist|[[English language|English]]|[[Nepali language|Nepali]]|[[Bhutia language|Bhutia]]||[[Lepcha language|Lepcha]]}}
| demographics1_title2 = Additional official
| demographics1_info2 = {{hlist|[[Gurung language|Gurung]]|[[Limbu language|Limbu]]|[[Magar language|Magar]]|[[Sunwar language|Mukhia]]|[[Newari language|Newari]]|[[Kiranti languages|Rai]]|[[Sherpa language|Sherpa]]|[[Tamang language|Tamang]]}}
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 737132
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| area_code = 03592
| registration_plate =SK
| blank_name_sec1 = Literacy
| blank_info_sec1 = 87.27%
| blank1_name_sec1 = [[Lok Sabha]]
| blank1_info_sec1 = [[Sikkim (Lok Sabha constituency)|Sikkim Constituency]]
| blank2_name_sec1 = [[Railway Station]]
| blank2_info_sec1 = [[Rangpo railway station]]
| blank3_name_sec1 = Nearest Airport
| blank3_info_sec1 = [[Pakyong Airport]]
| blank6_name_sec1 = [[Vidhan Sabha]]
| blank6_info_sec1 = [[West Pendam (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|West Pendam Constituency]]
| website = {{URL|https://eastsikkim.nic.in}}
| footnotes =
}}
'''Rangpo''' is a Municipal town in India shared by [[Pakyong district]] of the state [[Sikkim]] and [[Kalimpong district]] of the state [[West Bengal]]. The town is situated along the [[Teesta River]] and [[Rangpo River]]. It is the first town of Sikkim lying on [[National Highway 10 (India)|National Highway 10]] that links [[Siliguri]] to [[Gangtok]]. It is about 300 m above sea level with a [[sub-tropical]] climate. It is the 'Gateway to Sikkim' and all vehicles entering Sikkim have to stop at the Rangpo Police check-post. Foreign tourists are required to present documents to enter Sikkim state and must show them at the police checkpoint. The Rangpo River separates the Rangpo Forest Village lying on the West Bengal side from the Rangpo Municipal Town lying on the Sikkim side.

==Geography==
Rangpo is located at {{coord|27.18|N|88.53|E|}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/0/Rangpo.html|title=redirect to /world/IN/00/Rangpo.html|website=www.fallingrain.com}}</ref> It has an average elevation of 333 metres (1093 feet). The town lies on the belt of two rivers, [[Teesta|River Teesta]] which comes from [[Dikchu]]-[[Singtam]]-[[Majitar]] side, and [[Rangpo River|River Rangpo]] which comes from [[Rongli]]-[[Rorathang]]-[[Kumrek]] side. Both rivers meet each other below the town. The conjunction point is named Rangpo Doban and is utilized as a cremation place. Since River Teesta is the largest river and River Rangpo the third largest river of Sikkim so both rivers become violent during the monsoon season, especially between June and September; hence, sometimes the river overflows towards lower residential areas of the town and causes destruction.

==Transport==
===Roadways===
As Rangpo lies on [[National Highway 10 (India)|NH-10]], so frequent service jeeps and taxis are available to almost all cities and towns of Sikkim and cities/towns of West Bengal like [[Siliguri]], [[Kalimpong]], [[Darjeeling]], [[Kurseong]], [[Jaigaon]], [[Malbazar]], [[Bagdogra]], [[Panitanki]] etc.
In Rangpo, NH-10 is joined by the following major roads:
* Rorathang-Kumrek-Rangpo Road,
* Namchi-Namthang-Rangpo Road and
* Kalimpong-Munsoong-Rangpo Road.

'''Buses:'''

Frequent buses operated by Sikkim Nationalised Transport (SNT) are available from Rangpo to [[Sikkim Nationalised Transport Bus Terminus (Siliguri)]] and [[Gangtok]], apart from it many private buses and [[North Bengal State Transport Corporation|NBSTC]] buses are available from the town to [[Gangtok]], [[New Jalpaiguri Junction railway station|NJP Bus stand]] and [[Tenzing Norgay Bus Terminus|Tenzing Norgay Bus Terminus, (Siliguri)]].

===Railway===
[[Rangpo railway station]] is the under-construction railway station in Rangpo, which falls under [[Sivok–Rangpo line|Sevoke-Rangpo Railway Line]], [[Alipurduar railway division]] of [[Northeast Frontier Railway]]. The nearest currently functioning railway stations are [[Sivok railway station]] - 55 km, [[Siliguri Junction]] - 75 km, and [[New Jalpaiguri Junction railway station|New Jalpaiguri Junction]] - 87 km.

===Airways===
The nearest airport is [[Pakyong Airport]] around 25 km away and [[Bagdogra Airport|Bagdogra International Airport]] around 90 km away.

==Economy==
[[File:Indian Oil petrol station, Rangpo, Sikkim.jpg|thumb|Indian Oil Petrol Pump at Rangpo, Pakyong District Sikkim]]
There are many factories and companies in and nearby Rangpo.
The areas like Mining, [[Kumrek]], Chanatar, etc. are home to many pharmaceutical and other factories/Industries.
Rangpo Upper market along NH-10 is famous for Fast Food and Restaurants. There are many food stores in these areas. Areas like Upper market, lower market, IBM, Chanataar, Mining etc. are usually crowded.

The crops like [[Black cardamom|Large Cardamom]], [[Thysanolaena|Broom Plant]] (Kuccho) and [[Ginger]] are traded on a large scale in the Rangpo Lower Market.

==Attractions==
The places of attraction in and around Rangpo are as follows:
* [[Mining Ground|Mining Cricket Stadium, Rangpo]] which belongs to [[Sikkim Cricket Association]].
* [[Atal Setu Bridge]] (The longest bridge of Sikkim) over [[Rangpo River|River Rangpo]].
* Rangpo - Mining Teesta Bridge over [[Teesta|River Teesta]].
* Rangpo Doban (confluence point of [[Teesta|River Teesta]] and [[Rangpo River|River Rangpo]].
* [[Rangpo railway station]] which is under construction.
* Gulmohar Picnic Spot, [[Kumrek]].

== Sports ==
[[Mining Ground|Mining Cricket Stadium]] located at Rangpo, Pakyong district, is the largest cricket stadium in the entire Sikkim. The stadium belongs to [[Sikkim Cricket Association]] and hosts important cricket tournaments like [[Ranji Trophy]], [[CK Nayudu Trophy]], [[Cooch Behar Trophy]], [[Vijay Merchant|Vijay Merchant Trophy]], etc. It is the home ground of [[Sikkim cricket team]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=For first time Sikkim to host Ranji Trophy matches, Himalayan state allotted three fixtures|url=https://nenow.in/north-east-news/sikkim/sikkim-ranji-trophy-matches-himalayan-three-fixtures.html|website=nenow.in}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Sikkim to host 3 Ranji Trophy matches for the first time|url=https://currentaffairs.adda247.com/sikkim-to-host-3-ranji-trophy-matches-for-the-first-time/|website=currentaffairs.adda247.com}}</ref>

==Education==
There are many educational institutions in Rangpo. [[Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology]] and [[Himalayan Pharmacy Institute]] lies in [[Majitar]] just 2 km away from Rangpo.

The famous schools of the town include Rangpo Senior Secondary School, Chanataar Secondary School, New Horizon Academy, Little Bells School, Tiny Tots School, Hans Raj Academy, Ivana Memorial School, etc., on the Sikkim side, whereas Dewan Junior High School, Divya Jyoti Academy, etc., on the West Bengal side.

==Demographics==
As of the 2001 India [[census]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-date=16 June 2004|title= Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)|access-date=1 November 2008|publisher= Census Commission of India}}</ref> Rangpo had a population of 3,724. Males constituted 55% of the population and females 45%. Rangpo had an average literacy rate of 70%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy was 75%, and female literacy was 63%. In Rangpo, 13% of the population was under 6 years of age.

Rangpo has a large population of [[Bhutia]]s and Nepalese people. [[Marwari people|Marwari]] and [[Biharis|Bihari]] businessmen have settled in the town and own most of the shops.{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}
===Religion===
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Religious Demographic in Rangpo Nagar-Panchayat (2011)<ref>[https://www.census2011.co.in/data/town/261376-rhenak-sikkim.html] censusindia.gov.in</ref>
|label1= [[ Hinduism]]
|value1= 74.71
|color1 = orange
|label2 = [[Christianity ]]
|value2 = 11.20
|color2 = blue
|label3= [[Buddhism]]
|value3 = 8.58
|color3 = yellow
|label4 = [[ Islam]]
|value4 = 5.28
|color4 = green
|label5 = Others
|value5 = 0.23
|color5 = black
}}

===Languages===
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Languages spoken in Rangpo Nagar-Panchayat (2011)<ref>[https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-16T/DDW-C16-TOWN-STMT-MDDS-2000.XLSX 2011 census data] censusindia.gov.in</ref>
|label1 = [[Nepali language|Nepali]]
|value1 = 60.98
|color1 = red
|label2 = [[Hindi language|Hindi]]
|value2 = 16.71
|color2 = orange
|label3 = [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]]
|value3 = 10.87
|color3 = brown
|label4 = [[Bengali language|Bengali]]
|value4 = 4.57
|color4 = yellow
|label5 = [[Odia language|Odia]]
|value5 = 1.55
|color5 = olive
|label6 = [[Urdu language|Urdu]]
|value6 = 1.16
|color6 = green
|label7 = [[Assamese language|Assamese]]
|value7 = 0.76
|color7 = turquoise
|label8 = [[Sikkimese language|Bhutia]]
|value8 = 0.70
|color8 = magenta
|label9 = Others
|value9 = 2.7
|color9 = black
}}

==Sikkim Railway Project==
The foundation stone for the construction of a new railway line from [[Sivok railway station|Sevoke railway station]] (station code SVQ) to the proposed [[Rangpo railway station]] on the border of Sikkim and [[West Bengal]] was laid in October 2009 by the vice president of India.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.constructionupdate.com/News.aspx?nId=WIcIBZdMByhLAS9Iyls+Og== |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130528224619/http://www.constructionupdate.com/News.aspx?nId=WIcIBZdMByhLAS9Iyls+Og== |archive-date=28 May 2013 |title=Construction Update - Finally, Sevoke-Rangpo railway link on track}}</ref> In 2008, the line was proposed to be 53 km long with {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} [[broad gauge]] track with only a few tunnels but the final alignment is 45 km long with more number of tunnels. Of this, 3.5 km will be in Sikkim state and the rest in West Bengal state. The track will have 28 bridges and 14 tunnels and 38.6 km of the track will be in tunnels.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-logistics/Inspection-survey-for-Sikkim-rail-link/article20052215.ece | title= Inspection survey for Sikkim rail link | date=25 January 2010 | first=Sarikah | last=Atreya | newspaper=The Hindu Business Line | access-date=8 September 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-logistics/Inspection-survey-for-Sikkim-rail-link/article20052215.ece|title=Inspection survey for Sikkim rail link|website=@businessline}}</ref> The track will be constructed through the foothills of the Kanchanjungha mountain range and the Teesta river valley.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}} New railway stations will be constructed at Riayang, Geil Khola, [[Teesta Bazaar]], [[Melli]], and Rangpo. {{speculation inline|date=May 2023}}

The Indian Railways signed a contract with the construction company, IRCON, only in May 2010, though the foundation stone had been laid in October 2009. The final alignment had not been fixed for the first 22 km through the elephant sanctuary forest, even in 2013, and the final clearance of the environment ministry had not been received.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.railway-technology.com/projects/northbengalsikkimrai/|title=North Bengal-Sikkim Railway Link}}</ref> To obtain approval of the environment and forest ministry, the railways made a proposal in February 2013 to install elephant sensors along the stretch of the proposed railway line in Mahananda elephant sanctuary or run the trains at a speed of only 20 km per hour in the forest area and stop when an elephant is sighted close to the track.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-newdelhi/elephant-sensors-may-come-up-on-railway-line-to-sikkim/article4387995.ece|title=Elephant sensors may come up on railway line to Sikkim|first=K.|last=Balchand|date=7 February 2013|via=www.thehindu.com|newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref> People of two villages in East Sikkim, through which a 3.5 km stretch of the 45 km long railway line has been planned, had not agreed to give their land for laying the track.<ref>[http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120828/jsp/siliguri/story_15905614.jsp Villagers’ nod to rail survey] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304215630/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120828/jsp/siliguri/story_15905614.jsp |date=4 March 2016 }}, The Telegraph, 28 August 2012</ref>

The [[Supreme Court of India]] approved the project in February 2016 with strict guidelines of the National Wildlife Board that cleared the project in June 2015, but ordered restricted speed, wireless animal tracking sensors, and allowed digging of tunnels only during daytime. However, a "No Objection Certificate" (NOC) was still needed from the gram sabhas (village councils) of all the villages in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts in West Bengal through which the track will pass. The construction cannot start without the NOC. However, the Gram Sabhas do not exist due to the non-holding of rural elections in the Hills for the past several years, and therefore, no NOC could be obtained.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestatesman.com/cities/cms-may-talk-sikkim-rail-project-1502602405.html|title=CMs may talk Sikkim rail project|date=16 March 2018}}</ref> This is a [[Catch-22|catch 22]] situation holding up the commencement of construction. The project cost has escalated from the estimated cost of Rs. 13.4 billion in 2008<ref>{{cite web |title=Railway Project |url=https://indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/works/pdf/Other_Projects_080411.pdf |website=indianrailways.gov.in |access-date=3 March 2021}}</ref> to Rs. 60 billion, and construction of the railway line has not started even in 2018. The Railway Board chairman visited and met the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) officials on 2 March 2018 to discuss the status of the project.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chanda |first1=Aishik |title=Coming Soon: West Bengal - Sikkim Rail project |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2018/feb/21/coming-soon-west-bengal---sikkim-rail-project-1776854.html |access-date=3 March 2021 |work=The New Indian Express |date=21 February 2018}}</ref> Finally, a NOC was issued by GTA on 11 April 2018 on behalf of the villages.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.railnews.in/sevoke-rangpo-railway-line-finally-gets-gta-nod/|title=Sevoke–Rangpo Railway line finally gets GTA Nod – RailNews Media India Ltd}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://voiceofsikkim.com/2018/04/11/sikkim-railway-sevoke-rangpo-rail-gets-gta-nod-finally/|title=Sikkim Railway: Sevoke – Rangpo Rail Gets GTA Nod Finally – The Voice of Sikkim}}</ref> However, no tender has been issued and no bid has been invited for the project after April 2018.

The railway line is needed for security and socio-economic reasons. The railway line will help troops and armaments move faster towards the Indo-Tibet border.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}}
The new railway line allows easier access to the rest of India through [[Siliguri]].{{citation needed|date=September 2019}} It will boost the state's economy and tourism.{{original research inline|date=September 2019}}{{speculation inline|date=May 2023}}

===Summary of Sikkim railway project===
* Estimated cost: Rs. 1,340 crore (13.4 billion) in 2008, but may exceed Rs. 60 billion when the project is completed in 2022.
* Length of final alignment: 44.98 km
* Length of track in Bengal: 41.54 km
* Length of track in Sikkim: 3.44 km
* Stations: Riang (or Riayang), Gailkhola (or Geil Khola), [[Teesta Bazaar]], [[Melli]], and Rangpo
* Nearest large junction: [[New Jalpaiguri]] (30 km from Sevoke through [[Siliguri]] junction)
* Route under tunnels: 38.64 km (86%)
* Number of bridges: 28
* Number of tunnels: 14
* Longest tunnel: 5.1 km

==2023 Sikkim Flash Floods==
Rangpo was affected by the [[2023 Sikkim flash floods]], which hit Rangpo around 2 am on 4 October 2023. Most surviving people were shifted to relief camps immediately by the authorities.

==See also==
* [[Singtam]]
* [[Rorathang]]
* [[Majitar]]
* [[Kumrek]]
* [[Rangpo railway station]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}

{{Pakyong district}}

[[Category:Cities and towns in Pakyong district]]
[[Category:Pakyong district]]

Rangpo - Revision history

AliNiazOfficial at 03:08, 3 January 2026