Sevoke

Coronation Bridge in Sevoke

Sevoke (also Sevok or Sivok) (Nepali: सेवोक) (Bengali: সেভক) is a town near Siliguri in the Darjeeling District of West Bengal state of India on the border with Sikkim state. It is a part of Dooars. Many army and BSF camps are located in the area. The Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in this area. National Highway NH31 passes through the town. NH 31A connects this town to Gangtok.[1]

Transport

Sevoke has its own railway station on the New Jalpaiguri-Alipurduar-Samuktala Road Line but many trains do not stop here. The nearest major railway junction is at New Jalpaiguri where almost all trains stop. The nearest airport is the Bagdogra airport 23 km away.

Sevoke is located on the way to Gangtok and Kalimpong and Dooars on the NH 31 from Siliguri. It is a hill station to which one can go to enjoy nature. Green hills, flora, fauna (mainly monkeys) and many good view points are really enjoyable.

New railway line from Sevoke to Rangpo (Sikkim Railway Project)

Main article: Rangpo

Construction of a new railway line from Sevoke to Rangpo in Sikkim towards the north started in 2010 and was planned to be completed in 2015. The 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge track will be 45 km long, 32 km of which will be in tunnels. Five new railway stations will be constructed at Melli, Teesta Bazaar, Geilkhola, Riang and Rangpo. The track will be constructed through the foothills of Kanchanjungha mountain range and Teesta river valley and will offer very beautiful views.

However, the environment and forest ministry had not given its approval to the stretch of the proposed railway line passing through Mahananda elephant sanctuary even by March 2013. Therefore, construction of the railway line has not started.[2] 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.[3]

The new railway line will increase the importance of Sevoke.

Monkey with child at Sevoke

References

  1. ↑ "NH wise Details of NH in respect of Stretches entrusted to NHAI" (PDF). National Highway Authority of India. Retrieved 2008-12-22.
  2. ↑ http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-newdelhi/elephant-sensors-may-come-up-on-railway-line-to-sikkim/article4387995.ece
  3. ↑ http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120828/jsp/siliguri/story_15905614.jsp


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