[citation needed] 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.

[12] 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.

[15] 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 will help troops and armaments move faster towards the Indo-Tibet border.