PSC on Railways reviews Rail infrastructure and tourism development in Darjeeling

Guwahati: A delegation of the Parliamentary Standing Committee (PSC) on Railways visited Darjeeling on April 17^th,  2025 as part of their official tour. During the visit, the Committee held a series of informal discussions with senior officials of Northeast Frontier Railway and its associated organizations on issues relating to railway development and tourism promotion in the region.

As part of the visit, discussions were held with Chetan Kumar Shrivastava, the General Manager of Northeast Frontier Railway, and the Chairman & Managing Director, IRCON International Limited, on the subject "Expansion of Rail Network in North East and Union Territories", with a special emphasis on the Sivok – Rangpo new railway line project. This vital rail link aims to enhance connectivity to Sikkim and is considered crucial for the socio-economic and strategic development of the region.

Further, the Committee engaged in a separate informal interaction with the General Manager, Northeast Frontier Railway, and the Chairman & Managing Director, IRCTC on the topic "Promotion of Railway – Based Tourism". The discussions focused on initiatives to harness the region’s tourism potential through innovative rail-based experiences and sustainable heritage tourism.

During the visit, the Committee also toured the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to assess on-going efforts in preservation, modernization, and promotion of heritage railway tourism.

During the meeting Northeast Frontier Railway reiterated its commitment to the advancement of railway infrastructure and tourism in the North Eastern Region and Union Territories, recognizing their importance in fostering inclusive growth and national integration.