Disconnected

The recent visit of Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Ajay Tamta to Sikkim once again brought familiar promises of better connectivity, upgraded highways, bypass roads and accelerated infrastructure development. Crores of rupees have been sanctioned, multiple projects are underway, and review meetings continue to be held. Yet for the people of Sikkim, the harsh reality remains unchanged: one major landslide, one spell of monsoon rain, or one highway collapse is enough to isolate the entire state from the rest of the country.

NH-10 continues to remain Sikkim’s fragile lifeline. Every year, the same cycle repeats itself. Roads cave in, traffic remains stranded for hours or days, tourists cancel trips, essential commodities become uncertain, and patients suffer due to disrupted transport. Despite years of announcements and repeated allocations, Sikkim still lacks a truly resilient all-weather highway system.

Connectivity in a Himalayan border state cannot be treated as an ordinary infrastructure matter. It is an issue of economic survival, disaster resilience, national security and public safety. Sikkim’s tourism-driven economy depends heavily on uninterrupted road access. A single prolonged disruption on NH-10 sends shockwaves across hotels, transport services, small businesses and local livelihoods.

While the proposed Rangpo-Rorathang and Melli-Singtam bypasses, NH-10 upgrades and BRO projects are welcome, the deeper question remains unanswered: why is Sikkim still dependent on a single vulnerable corridor after decades of strategic importance? Temporary repairs and fragmented widening projects cannot substitute for a long-term Himalayan connectivity vision.

The state urgently requires scientifically designed all-weather highways, alternative corridors, slope stabilization systems, modern tunnelling solutions and climate-resilient infrastructure planning. Road development in fragile mountain regions cannot rely solely on conventional engineering models designed for the plains.

Review meetings and foundation stones alone will not restore public confidence. What Sikkim needs now is execution, accountability and urgency. For a state repeatedly cut off from the mainland, connectivity is not merely about transportation. It is about dignity, survival and the right to remain connected to the nation throughout the year.