VictoriaCoward4 at 18:08, 8 June 2025

2025-06-08T18:08:59Z

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{{Short description|Railway station which serves Teesta Bazaar}}
{{Infobox station
| name = Tista Bazaar Railway Station
| type = [[File:Indian_Railways_Suburban_Railway_Logo.svg|25px]] [[Indian Railways]] Station
| style = Indian Railways
| image =
| image_caption =
| address = [[National Highway 10 (India)|National Highway 10]], [[Teesta Bazaar]], [[Kalimpong District]], [[West Bengal]]
| country = [[India]]
| coordinates = {{coords|27.06|88.43|display=inline,title}}
| line = [[Sivok–Rangpo line]]
| other =
| elevation = {{convert|90|m|ft}}
| structure = [[Intersection_(road)#At_grade_railways|At grade]]
| platform = 1
| depth =
| levels =
| tracks = 1
| parking = Yes ( after completion)
| bicycle = No
| opened = TBA
| closed =
| rebuilt =
| electrified = No
| accessible =
| code = {{Indian railway code
| code = TSTAB
| zone = [[Northeast Frontier Railway zone|Northeast Frontier Railway]]
| division = {{rwd|Alipurduar}}
}}
| owned = [[Indian Railways]]
| operator = [[Northeast Frontier Railway zone|Northeast Frontier Railway]]
| status = Construction – new line
| former =
| passengers =
| pass_year =
| pass_percent =
| pass_system =
| mpassengers =
| map_type = India West Bengal#India
| map_caption = Location in [[West Bengal]]##Location in India
| map_dot_label = '''Tista Bazaar Railway Station'''
| services = 
}}'''Tista Bazaar Railway Station'''<ref> {{Cite web|title=Tista Bazaar Railway Station|url=https://indiarailinfo.com/station/blog/rangpo-rngpo/10688|website=indiarailinfo.com}}</ref> is the railway station which serves [[Teesta Bazaar]] and nearby areas like [[Kalimpong]], Tribeni, Lopchu, Peshok, Chitrey, Takdah, Lamahatta etc in [[Kalimpong district]] of [[West Bengal]]. It is an Underground Railway Station which is under construction on [[Sivok–Rangpo line]] of [[Northeast Frontier Railway]], [[Alipurduar railway division]].

==Under-construction extension==
{{see also|Future_of_rail_transport_in_India#Geo|l1= Geostrategic rail lines of India}}

[[Sivok–Rangpo line]], 44 km-long line, will provide access to Gangtok in Sikkim.<ref name=railne1>{{Cite web|title=North East to get better Indian Railways connectivity! 5 major rail projects lined up|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/infrastructure/railways/north-east-to-get-better-indian-railways-connectivity-5-major-rail-projects-lined-up-details-here/2027372/|date=July 17, 2020|access-date=2023-01-14|website=Financialexpress|language=en}}</ref> The foundation stone for construction of a new railway line from Sevoke railway station to 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== |title=Update |publisher=www.constructionupdate.com |date= |accessdate=2021-02-09}}</ref> In 2008, the line was proposed to be 53 km long with {{track gauge|1676mm}} [[5 ft 6 in gauge railway|broad gauge]] track but the final alignment is 45 km long with 3.5 km in Sikkim state and the rest in West Bengal state. The track will have 28 bridges and 14 tunnels and 38.5 km of the track will be in tunnels.<ref>{{cite web | author=The Hindu BusinessLine | title=Inspection survey for Sikkim rail link | website=@businessline | date=2010-01-25 | url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-logistics/Inspection-survey-for-Sikkim-rail-link/article20052215.ece | access-date=2021-02-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/01/25/stories/2010012551081500.htm |title=The Hindu Business Line : Inspection survey for Sikkim rail link |accessdate=2012-07-20 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100131003127/http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/01/25/stories/2010012551081500.htm |archivedate=31 January 2010 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Bridges over deep gorges and valleys will provide a scenic journey.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}} The track is due to be constructed through the foothills of the Kanchanjungha mountain range and the Teesta river valley. New railway stations will be constructed at [[Melli]], [[Teesta Bazaar]], Geil Khola, Riang, and [[Rangpo]].{{update inline|date=September 2019}}{{speculation inline|date=July 2023}}

The Indian Railways signed a contract with the construction company, IRCON, only in May 2010 but the final alignment had not been fixed for the first 22 km through elephant sanctuary forest even in 2013 and the final clearance of environment ministry had not been received.<ref>{{cite web | title=North Bengal-Sikkim Railway Link | website=Railway Technology | date=2020-06-25 | url=http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/northbengalsikkimrai/ | access-date=2021-02-09}}</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 web | last=Balchand | first=K. | title=Elephant sensors may come up on railway line to Sikkim | website=The Hindu | date=2013-02-07 | url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-newdelhi/elephant-sensors-may-come-up-on-railway-line-to-sikkim/article4387995.ece | access-date=2021-02-09}}</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], ''The Telegraph'', August 28, 2012{{dead link|date=July 2023}}</ref> The project cost has escalated from the estimated cost of Rs.13.4 billion in 2008<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/works/pdf/Other_Projects_080411.pdf |title=Other projects |publisher=www.indianrailways.gov.in |date= |accessdate=2021-02-09}}</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. 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. Railway Board chairman visited and met the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) officials on 2 March 2018 to discuss the commencement of construction of the track and tunnels.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2018/feb/21/coming-soon-west-bengal---sikkim-rail-project-1776854.html|title=Coming Soon: West Bengal - Sikkim Rail project |last=Chanda |first= Aishik|date=21 February 2018 |website= www.newindianexpress.com|access-date=2021-02-09}}</ref> The railway line up to Rangpo is expected to be completed in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Indian Railways new Sivok-Rangpo rail project: Travel from West Bengal to Sikkim in just 2 hours|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/infrastructure/railways/indian-railways-new-sivok-rangpo-rail-project-travel-from-west-bengal-to-sikkim-in-just-2-hours-watch-video/1691100/|date=30 August 2019|access-date=2023-01-14|website=Financialexpress|language=en}}</ref> In the second phase the line will be extended up to [[Gangtok]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Very soon, travelling to Sikkim by train will be a possibility | website=Times of India Travel | date=2019-09-17 | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/very-soon-travelling-to-sikkim-by-train-will-be-a-possibility/as71172425.cms | access-date=2021-02-09}}</ref>

* Estimated cost: Rs.1,340 crore in 2008.
* Length of final alignment: 44.98 km
* Stations en route: Riang, Gailkhola, Tista Bazaar, Melli
* Nearest junction: [[New Jalpaiguri]] (30 km from Sevoke through [[Siliguri]])
* Route under tunnels: 38.53 km (86%)
* Number of bridges: 28
* Number of tunnels: 14
* Longest tunnel: 5.1 km

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Alipurduar railway division]]
[[Category:Railway stations in Kalimpong district]]

Tista Bazaar railway station - Revision history

VictoriaCoward4 at 18:08, 8 June 2025